Researchers Create Stem Cells Without Destroying Embryos

wsj.com ^ | 11/20/2007 | GAUTAM NAIK

[shove_it]

In the quest to treat difficult diseases, researchers have created human embryonic stem cells without destroying embryos or using hard-to-get eggs. The technique may prove to be easier, cheaper, and more ethically appealing than an alternative approach that requires cloning.

Two separate teams of researchers say they have sidestepped the cloning method and reprogrammed mature human cells into a primordial, embryonic-like state. Those cells were then transformed into other tissue types, such as heart cells. The long-term hope is that such freshly-created tissue may, for example, be used to heal a heart-attack patient.

Unlike cloning, "the wonderful thing about this approach is that it's easy. You're going to see lots and lots of labs give it a try," predicts Robert Blelloch, a stem cell biologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who has performed his own reprogramming experiments. He says he read the latest studies but wasn't involved in them...

[shove_it]

stem cell ping

[Moonman62]

In another article I read today, the researcher said it only takes four genes to reprogram the cell.

[mvpel]

[SuziQ]

"Any scientist with basic technology in molecular and cell biology can do reprogramming," says Dr. Yamanaka. "If we can overcome the issue [of having to use dangerous viruses to ferry the genes into cells], many more people will move from nuclear transfer to this method."

Makes me wonder how the research money in this country is going to get distributed. The folks who are wedded to stem cell research using human embryos may not take kindly to this alternative.

[KarlInOhio]

Abortionists are deeply saddened. There goes their attempt to turn over a million deaths a year into a social virtue.

[11th Commandment]

One can hope this is promising; however, I remember a FR post a whil back that said Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University was not so promising. However, this post has some confirming research....

[DPMD]

These scientists have been assigned to undergo court-ordered sensitivity therapy. They will emerge extolling the virtues of embryonic stem cell research.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the ping, shove_it. It's an odd coincidence, but I found the first link last night.

Stem Cells: Japan Gets Ahead of the Curve

Stem Cell Breakthrough Uses No Embryos

New Stem Cell Method Could Ease Ethical Concerns

Researchers Turn Skin Cells Into Stem Cells

[Dr. Scarpetta]

bump