Ultimate stem cell discovered

New Scientist ^ | 01.23.02 | Sylvia Pagán Westphal

[Coleus]

A stem cell has been found in adults that can turn into every single tissue in the body. It might turn out to be the most important cell ever discovered.  Until now, only stem cells from early embryos were thought to have such properties. If the finding is confirmed, it will mean cells from your own body could one day be turned into all sorts of perfectly matched replacement tissues and even organs.

Ethical dilemma: Why most researchers insist embryonic stem cell studies must continue

If so, there would be no need to resort to therapeutic cloning - cloning people to get matching stem cells from the resulting embryos. Nor would you have to genetically engineer embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to create a "one cell fits all" line that does not trigger immune rejection. The discovery of such versatile adult stem cells will also fan the debate about whether embryonic stem cell research is justified. "The work is very exciting," says Ihor Lemischka of Princeton University. "They can differentiate into pretty much everything that an embryonic stem cell can differentiate into."

Remarkable findings

[Red Badger]

Kind of old........Must not have panned out.........

[editor-surveyor]

"Kind of old........Must not have panned out........."

Yep, it failed the "doctor's bottom line benefit analysis."

[JUMPIN JEHOSPOHAT]

There was also a paper in AAAS Science that is much more

revealing about the problem of federal funding for this

research. It is indeed a troubling dilemma.

[MaxMax]

They need to hurry up, I’ll need a new liver after the next election.

[VOA]

A stem cell has been found in adults that can turn into every single
tissue in the body.

"Curses! Adult Stem Cells again!

That's hat my biological researcher acquintances are probably saying.

But then, they'd always just about put their fingers in their ears
whenever I said "Have you considered you MIGHT be backing the
wrong horse?"

[JUMPIN JEHOSPOHAT]

As for my own thoughts and at the same time remaining

within the confines of good science we must remain guided

by the truth and facts only. If this falls outside

the “Religiosity” of those who would have us do science in

our courtrooms, then we have not only ruined our science

but our religious truth also.

[VOA]

My mind is open to the possibility that at some point ESCs might yet
be shown to be a great “miracle cure” for many hideous diseases/conditions.

And the ethical/moral questions are an issue that should be discussed
before this might happen.

But, as a pragmatist, I was only mentioning to my acquaintances
that are hot for ESCs that they should take a couple of minutes away
from the lab-bench and notice that “the BIG money” wasn’t going whole-hog
with venture capital for ESCs.
And that ONLY adult stem cells have been found to effect cures/therapies
without causing unwanted “collateral damage” to patients, such as tumors.

But I know that these ESC-pimping friends of mine are now gnashing
their teeth.
After the Stowers spent millions to buy an amendment to protect
cloning in Missouri, these cry-babys are now threatening to pack up
and leave Missouri because a few state legislators dare to still question
the direction of stem-cell research.

We’ve learned to see that money-bag fat-cats that can buy an election
can even be “Sore Winners”.

[MaxMax]

And there goes 300-billion more dollars could have been spent towards the goal.
If BUSH hadn't had started this darn war! /s

But I know that these ESC-pimping friends of mine are
now gnashing their teeth.

WTF is an (ESC)? Esterestial Saucer Communicators?

That 300-B, well, outside of the 299-Billion in earmarks,
could've gone A long way.

/BAH

[aruanan]

They need to hurry up, I’ll need a new liver after the next election.

If you don't abuse them too badly, livers regenerate.