where can i find respectable specific information regarding the up to
date status of bioengineering fucntional organs (i.e., growing
kidneys, livers, etc., suitable for human implantation, in labs from
cells)?

There is no way to artificially grow human organs in a lab.  the only
way to make human organs is by having human donors or to genetically
modify organs in another mammal such as a pig and grow them so that
they are compatible with humans.

There is no way to artificially grow human organs in a lab? Last I
checked, that was actually not correct. The problem is that our
esteemed President says that cloning is immoral and unethical and
what-have-you, which prevents any public funding for research into
these sort of medical advances, leaving it all up to the underfunded
private sector, which is being crushed by the death throes of our
economy.

I don't have a really founded answer regarding this question, but had
to refute that comment; there IS work being done on growing human
organs artificially. There's a cancer treatment being tested out that
involves cloning the patient's own T-cells (white blood cells) that
are programmed to attack malignant tissue instead of ignore it. If
they can clone millions of your own white blood cells, there's really
no reason they can't make you a new liver, lung, or arm once they get
it down right...

Actually researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center
in San Antonio, TX recently reported on successful growth of mouse
teeth in the lab:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/896134.stm

It is believed this technique could be applied in the future to human
teeth.

It appears to me that the scope of the question includes a range of
methods beyond simple culturing of organisms, however.  "Respectable"
research is being done on "bioengineering" of skin, blood, and bone
replacment with materials that are partly or wholly artificial.  If
this sort of information is of interest, I could provide it in the
form of an answer.

regards, mathtalk-ga

this is in response to the reply i recieved from mathtalk-ga. i would
appreciate an answer to the alternate topic of bioengineering progress
in artificial replacement of blood, bone or skin as you offered
yesterday. please get it to me asap after you read this if possible.
thanks.