Vocal cords that produce realistic sounds have been grown in the lab from human cells. The work marks a first step towards better treatments for patients who lose their voices to injury or disease. Vocal cords are formed by two bands of smooth muscle tissue that are lined with a material called mucosa. When air passes through them, the folds vibrate hundreds of times per second to make sounds. But diseases such as cancer can destroy the delicate folds and for many patients, the medical treatments are...
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