Lab-grown blood given to people in world-first clinical trial

Blood that has been grown in a laboratory has been given to people in a world-first clinical trial, UK researchers say.

Tiny amounts - equivalent to a couple of spoonfuls - are being tested to see how it performs inside the body.

While the bulk of blood transfusions will still rely on donations, the goal is to manufacture vital, but ultra-rare, blood groups that are hard to get hold of.

These are necessary for people who depend on regular blood transfusions for conditions such as sickle cell anaemia