Posted on 10/10/2006 2:38:30 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher
EMBRYONIC stem cells turn into tumours when injected into human tissue and therefore cannot be used to treat diseases, a visiting US expert said today.
Professor James Sherley, a researcher in the field of adult stem cells, is one of a series of experts in Canberra to lobby MPs ahead of a conscience vote on whether a ban on therapeutic cloning should be overturned.
Prof Sherley, from Boston's Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), today said scientists had failed to reveal problems with embryonic stem cells that would prevent them being used in humans.
The unique feature of embryonic stem cells that allowed them to turn into any cell of the body, known as pluripotency, created a problem when researchers injected them into tissue, Prof Sherley said.
“When you put them in an environment where they can grow and develop, they make lots of different kind of tissues,” Prof Sherley said.
“This tumour formation property is an inherent feature of the cells.
“And all you have to do is simply inject them into an animal tissue – this happens at very high efficiency.
“And although some might say we can solve the tumour problem down the road, that's equivalent to saying we can solve the cancer problem and we may, but that's a long time coming.”
Prof Sherley said the tumours, called teratomas, were generally considered benign, but it was possible they could metastasize or produce chemicals such as enzymes and cytokines that affect other parts of the body.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Who has the scoreboard? Embryonic stem cells has a negative score now.
I agree!!
Reaping what they sow.
The son of a Baptist minister, Sherley is vocal in his opposition to research using human embryonic stem cells because he thinks this amounts to sacrificing human lives. This stand puts him at odds with most of his scientific colleagues -- and once prompted a shouting match with another scientist at a faculty dinner at the Blue Room, a Cambridge restaurant, he said. [snip]After a faculty dinner devolved into a shouting match about the relative merits of embryonic and adult stem cells, he said he was no longer invited to the dinners. Slowly, he said, he became more and more ostracized, and the atmosphere become more poisonous. .
Two MIT scientists win 2006 Pioneer Awards Elizabeth A. Thomson, News Office September 19, 2006
Two MIT faculty are among 13 scientists nationwide to receive 2006 Pioneer Awards today from the National Institutes of Health for their "highly innovative research."Professors Arup K. Chakraborty and James L. Sherley will each receive $2.5 million over five years. [snip]
Sherley, an associate professor of biological engineering affiliated with the Center for Cancer Research, is working "to develop routine methods for the production of human adult stem cells from liver, pancreas, hair follicles and bone marrow."
Professor Sherley is a great professor and researcher. Although I have only known him for a year, I can easily say that he has had the greatest impact on me of any of the professors here, and I don't think that my experience is a unique one. Regardless of how busy he is, he always make time for his students. I am always impressed at his enthusiasm for his research and the research of his students. He has really set an example by standing up for his beliefs and not letting the majority rule, whether it be in opposing embryonic stem cell research, or in asking that MIT re-examine how his tenure case has been treated. I ask you to take a careful look at his tenure case and the issues surrounding it, and if you find that his case has been unfairly treated, please send it on to the Engineering committee.
Dr. Sherley was assigned to me as my freshmen advisor and since then I have come to respect him as a mentor, professor, and scientist. When I chose to become an associate advisor, I specifically asked to be a part of his freshmen advising/seminar group because I had had a great experience with him as a freshman. He goes out of his way to truly get to know his students at a time when they need guidance and help adjusting to college. Dr. Sherley is also an outstanding pre-medical advisor who, as an MD/PhD, can offer personal advice to students wanting to pursue a career in medicine, science, or both. When I look back at my years at MIT, I remember not only the great education I received but the people who made it enjoyable. I can honestly say Dr. Sherley is one of a handful of professors who I am grateful to have met and gotten to know. I sincerely hope MIT re-examines this decision and proceeds to have his tenure package reviewed by the Engineering Council.
And use lots of grant money....
Fear of reprisals is one reason why some scientists do not oppose therapeutic cloning says a professor at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Associate Professor James Sherley says that "I have asked the leaderships of both the American Society for Cell Biology and the International Society for Stem Cell Research to conduct anonymous on-line polls of their membership regarding their views on human embryo research. Neither has been willing to do so. Many scientists who do not support human embryo research are afraid to speak out because of possible reprisals from powerful scientists who can affect grant success, publication acceptances, tenure promotion, and employment."Professor Sherley is an expert in adult stem cells and an outspoken critic of embryonic stem cell research because, he argues, it is ethically and scientifically flawed. Not mincing his words, he says that many researchers "can often turn an amazingly blind eye to the contradictions in their position on therapeutic cloning. For example, the same scientists who argue that reproductive cloning would produce disease-ridden individuals insist that tissues created from therapeutic cloning will function normally!"
Cures will come from adult stem cells, he predicts. "It is pure scientific folly to place such emphasis on embryonic stem cells research to the exclusion of support for adult stem cell research," he says. "No matter what the hurdles are for success with adult stem cell-based therapy development, embryonic stem cell research faces the same hurdles and more." ~ MercatorNet, Dec 6 (disclosure: this magazine is also edited by the editor of BioEdge)
bump
Cancer's the flip side of life's coin? Who woulda thunk it?
And deny that life begins at conception - a pro-choice tool
More ammunition for you, dear. :-D
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