Georgia Institute of Technology bioengineers have demonstrated a way to grow tendons that gradually “fade” to bone at one end, strengthening the ends of the attachment

The technique uses a gene that triggers the fibroblast cells that make up tendons to start forming bone. It should lead to more lifelike artificially-grown tendons, and better treatments for injuries like ruptured Achilles tendons. It could also be applicable to other tissues, such as blood vessels.