Biological tissues are grown in a low shear, microgravity environment
by culturing connective tissue cells to form a three-dimensional structure, which
is thereafter co-cultured with endothelial and epithelial cells to replicate naturally
occurring tissues. Preferably, the three-dimensional connective tissue cells are
first cultured with endothelial cells to form three-dimensional structures of connective
tissue cells and endothelial cells, which are thereafter co-cultured with epithelial
cells to replicate naturally occurring tissue. The cultured tissue is in the general
shape of spheroids having a diameter between about 0.1 mm and about 5 m.