Up until now, inkjet has been used to print skin, bone and stem cells, however, scientists in Colorado have unveiled the world's first printed rat.

Dr James Thrinklet of the controversial life sciences development unit Print Life said that the development was the culmination of years of work.

"We were scoffed at when we proposed that this would be possible," he said. "However, recent developments in inkjet technology have made printed life a reality."

Normally brown rats are dichromates, meaning they perceive colours rather like a human with red-green colourblindness does. However, Print Life scientists have established that the inkjet versions have colour perception in the CIELAB range.

The rat was printed on a custom inkjet press dubbed "the Ratjet", developed in conjunction with an unnamed inkjet manufacturer.

Worries over the escape of jetted organisms are being addressed by another team that is working on a predator, "the Catjet" to produce inkjet-imaged cats that will be able to control the rat problem should they escape.

"The Catjet is a best-in-class solution to offset the potential of continuous inkjet vermin infestation should one of these transjetted organisms escape," said Thrinklet.

However, the project has been met with criticism by detractors terming the creatures 'Gutenberg’s monsters'.

The breakthrough heralds a new age in printing, and one that Thrinklet said could lead one day to humans being printed.

He said: "I believe that in 30 years time, there is a very real possibility that we will be able to print our children specified to our exact visual requirements."