PARIS: Scientists on Monday said that for the first time they had printed 3D objects using human embryonic stem cells, furthering the quest to fabricate transplantable organs. Once fine-tuned, the technology should allow scientists to make three-dimensional human tissue in the lab, eliminating the need for organ donation or testing on animals, they reported.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can replicate indefinitely and become almost any type of cell in the human body. They are touted as a source of replacement tissue, fixing nearly anything from malfunctioning hearts and lungs, to damaged spines, Parkinson’s disease or even baldness.

Scientists have previously tested 3D printing, which uses inkjet technology, with other types of cells, including adult stem cells.