| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"johac" |
| Date: |
21 Nov 2007 01:00:49 AM |
| Object: |
Stem cells without embryos |
This might be a way around the fundies objections, but I'm sure they'll
find something else to cry about. I agree that other lines of research
should continue as well. We won't know which is best unless we do the
research.
---
Skin cells transformed without embryos
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science EditorTue Nov 20, 3:25 PM ET
Researchers have transformed ordinary human skin cells into batches of
cells that look and act like embryonic stem cells -- but without using
cloning technology and without making embryos.
Their breakthroughs, reported on Tuesday, could make possible the
long-sought goal of tailor-made medicine, but without the political,
scientific and ethical roadblock of using human eggs or embryos.
"We can now envisage a time when a simple approach can be used to
produce stem cells that are able to form any tissue from a small sample
taken from any of us," said Ian Wilmut of the University of Edinburgh,
who helped clone the first mammal, Dolly the sheep, in 1997.
The White House immediately welcomed the development, given President
George W. Bush's long opposition to embryo research, even as scientists
said the finding should not be the end of such research.
Two separate teams of researchers achieved the same goal, which doctors
hope someday will lead to tailored medical treatments and a new approach
called regenerative medicine, in which damaged organs can be
re-programmed to repair themselves.
The researchers agree it will be years before the technique could be
used to treat people. More immediately, they say it can be used to study
diseases and to screen drugs.
James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin in Madison and colleagues
reported their finding in the journal Science. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto
University in Japan and colleagues reported theirs in the journal Cell.
The new cells are called induced pluripotent stem cells and look and act
like embryonic stem cells -- the master cells that give rise to every
cell and tissue in the body.
FOUR GENES
Both teams used just four genes to transform ordinary skin cells called
fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells -- iPS cells for short.
"These cells should be useful in understanding disease mechanisms,
searching for effective and safe drugs, and treating patients with cell
therapy," Yamanaka said in a statement. His team got the cells to
develop into heart cells, which then beat in unison.
"This work represents a tremendous scientific milestone -- the
biological equivalent of the Wright Brothers' first airplane," said Dr.
Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology, a company working in the same
field.
"It's not practical to use right now, but it might be in a few years.
This is truly the Holy Grail -- to be able to take a few cells from a
patient -- say a cheek swab or few skin cells -- and turn them into stem
cells in the laboratory."
Yamanaka had first transformed mouse skin cells using four genes, and
then tried his method on human cells. Thomson, whose team first
discovered human embryonic stem cells in 1998, went straight to human
cells using two of the same genes and two different genes.
Each method is likely to be patented separately.
Both teams said the new cells are not ready to use in people yet because
they used a type of virus called a retrovirus to carry the new genes
into the skin cells. It is not clear whether this virus might cause
genetic mutations that could cause cancer or other side effects.
"Even though we have this nice new source of cells it doesn't solve the
downstream problem of getting them into the body and functioning,"
Thomson said.
Wilmut was quoted by the Daily Telegraph this week as saying he was
abandoning human cloning research to pursue the new approach.
But Thomson said he doubted many others in the limited field of human
embryonic stem cell research would follow his lead.
"It is not the time to abandon embryonic stem cell research," he said.
"But I do believe that over time these cells will be used by more and
more labs and human embryonic stem cells will be used by fewer and fewer
labs."
(Editing by Will Dunham and Doina Chiacu)
---
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071120/ts_nm/stemcells_dc
--
John #1782
.
|
|
| User: "JESUS WAS A COCKSUCKER!" |
|
| Title: Re: Stem cells without embryos |
21 Nov 2007 06:38:41 PM |
|
|
"johac" <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:jhachmann-C0B373.23004920112007@news.giganews.com...
This might be a way around the fundies objections, but I'm sure they'll
find something else to cry about.
the fundies are not aloud to participate in the new found cures.
they can pray to thier non-existant deity.
.
|
|
|
| User: "johac" |
|
| Title: Re: Stem cells without embryos |
22 Nov 2007 12:25:40 AM |
|
|
In article <v-mdnfBiLr8NUtnanZ2dnUVZ_qadnZ2d@giganews.com>,
"JESUS WAS A *****!" <christainssuck@bigdick.org> wrote:
"johac" <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:jhachmann-C0B373.23004920112007@news.giganews.com...
This might be a way around the fundies objections, but I'm sure they'll
find something else to cry about.
the fundies are not aloud to participate in the new found cures.
they can pray to thier non-existant deity.
True. Why do they need medicine anyway?
--
John #1782
.
|
|
|
| User: "Ben Kaufman" |
|
| Title: Re: Stem cells without embryos |
23 Nov 2007 09:21:14 AM |
|
|
On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:25:40 -0800, johac <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
In article <v-mdnfBiLr8NUtnanZ2dnUVZ_qadnZ2d@giganews.com>,
"JESUS WAS A *****!" <christainssuck@bigdick.org> wrote:
"johac" <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:jhachmann-C0B373.23004920112007@news.giganews.com...
This might be a way around the fundies objections, but I'm sure they'll
find something else to cry about.
the fundies are not aloud to participate in the new found cures.
they can pray to thier non-existant deity.
True. Why do they need medicine anyway?
Would you deny a fundy pharmacist the joy of denying birth control or the "day
after pill" to a rape victim? ;-)
Ben
.
|
|
|
| User: "johac" |
|
| Title: Re: Stem cells without embryos |
24 Nov 2007 12:39:43 AM |
|
|
In article <gqrdk31gomvrqs6972j76eop96e5li4jts@4ax.com>,
Ben Kaufman <spaXm-mXe-anXd-paXy-5000-dollars@pobox.com> wrote:
On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:25:40 -0800, johac <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
In article <v-mdnfBiLr8NUtnanZ2dnUVZ_qadnZ2d@giganews.com>,
"JESUS WAS A *****!" <christainssuck@bigdick.org> wrote:
"johac" <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:jhachmann-C0B373.23004920112007@news.giganews.com...
This might be a way around the fundies objections, but I'm sure they'll
find something else to cry about.
the fundies are not aloud to participate in the new found cures.
they can pray to their non-existant deity.
True. Why do they need medicine anyway?
Would you deny a fundy pharmacist the joy of denying birth control or the "day
after pill" to a rape victim? ;-)
Of course. Unless of course a way could be found to make the pharmacist
carry the kid to term and raise it. :-)
Ben
--
John #1782
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "snex" |
|
| Title: Re: Stem cells without embryos |
21 Nov 2007 05:22:49 PM |
|
|
On Nov 21, 1:00 am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
This might be a way around the fundies objections, but I'm sure they'll
find something else to cry about. I agree that other lines of research
should continue as well. We won't know which is best unless we do the
research.
---
Skin cells transformed without embryos
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science EditorTue Nov 20, 3:25 PM ET
Researchers have transformed ordinary human skin cells into batches of
cells that look and act like embryonic stem cells -- but without using
cloning technology and without making embryos.
Their breakthroughs, reported on Tuesday, could make possible the
long-sought goal of tailor-made medicine, but without the political,
scientific and ethical roadblock of using human eggs or embryos.
"We can now envisage a time when a simple approach can be used to
produce stem cells that are able to form any tissue from a small sample
taken from any of us," said Ian Wilmut of the University of Edinburgh,
who helped clone the first mammal, Dolly the sheep, in 1997.
The White House immediately welcomed the development, given President
George W. Bush's long opposition to embryo research, even as scientists
said the finding should not be the end of such research.
Two separate teams of researchers achieved the same goal, which doctors
hope someday will lead to tailored medical treatments and a new approach
called regenerative medicine, in which damaged organs can be
re-programmed to repair themselves.
The researchers agree it will be years before the technique could be
used to treat people. More immediately, they say it can be used to study
diseases and to screen drugs.
James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin in Madison and colleagues
reported their finding in the journal Science. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto
University in Japan and colleagues reported theirs in the journal Cell.
The new cells are called induced pluripotent stem cells and look and act
like embryonic stem cells -- the master cells that give rise to every
cell and tissue in the body.
FOUR GENES
Both teams used just four genes to transform ordinary skin cells called
fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells -- iPS cells for short.
"These cells should be useful in understanding disease mechanisms,
searching for effective and safe drugs, and treating patients with cell
therapy," Yamanaka said in a statement. His team got the cells to
develop into heart cells, which then beat in unison.
"This work represents a tremendous scientific milestone -- the
biological equivalent of the Wright Brothers' first airplane," said Dr.
Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology, a company working in the same
field.
"It's not practical to use right now, but it might be in a few years.
This is truly the Holy Grail -- to be able to take a few cells from a
patient -- say a cheek swab or few skin cells -- and turn them into stem
cells in the laboratory."
Yamanaka had first transformed mouse skin cells using four genes, and
then tried his method on human cells. Thomson, whose team first
discovered human embryonic stem cells in 1998, went straight to human
cells using two of the same genes and two different genes.
Each method is likely to be patented separately.
Both teams said the new cells are not ready to use in people yet because
they used a type of virus called a retrovirus to carry the new genes
into the skin cells. It is not clear whether this virus might cause
genetic mutations that could cause cancer or other side effects.
"Even though we have this nice new source of cells it doesn't solve the
downstream problem of getting them into the body and functioning,"
Thomson said.
Wilmut was quoted by the Daily Telegraph this week as saying he was
abandoning human cloning research to pursue the new approach.
But Thomson said he doubted many others in the limited field of human
embryonic stem cell research would follow his lead.
"It is not the time to abandon embryonic stem cell research," he said.
"But I do believe that over time these cells will be used by more and
more labs and human embryonic stem cells will be used by fewer and fewer
labs."
(Editing by Will Dunham and Doina Chiacu)
---http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071120/ts_nm/stemcells_dc
--
John #1782
this research required and requires the use of embryonic stem cells.
you cant discover how to turn somatic cells into stem cells without
having real stem cells to compare them to.
.
|
|
|
| User: "johac" |
|
| Title: Re: Stem cells without embryos |
22 Nov 2007 12:34:44 AM |
|
|
In article
<5da4b50c-a3e4-468d-9bf4-35bbd837205f@r31g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
snex <snex@comcast.net> wrote:
On Nov 21, 1:00 am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
This might be a way around the fundies objections, but I'm sure they'll
find something else to cry about. I agree that other lines of research
should continue as well. We won't know which is best unless we do the
research.
---
Skin cells transformed without embryos
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science EditorTue Nov 20, 3:25 PM ET
Researchers have transformed ordinary human skin cells into batches of
cells that look and act like embryonic stem cells -- but without using
cloning technology and without making embryos.
Their breakthroughs, reported on Tuesday, could make possible the
long-sought goal of tailor-made medicine, but without the political,
scientific and ethical roadblock of using human eggs or embryos.
"We can now envisage a time when a simple approach can be used to
produce stem cells that are able to form any tissue from a small sample
taken from any of us," said Ian Wilmut of the University of Edinburgh,
who helped clone the first mammal, Dolly the sheep, in 1997.
The White House immediately welcomed the development, given President
George W. Bush's long opposition to embryo research, even as scientists
said the finding should not be the end of such research.
Two separate teams of researchers achieved the same goal, which doctors
hope someday will lead to tailored medical treatments and a new approach
called regenerative medicine, in which damaged organs can be
re-programmed to repair themselves.
The researchers agree it will be years before the technique could be
used to treat people. More immediately, they say it can be used to study
diseases and to screen drugs.
James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin in Madison and colleagues
reported their finding in the journal Science. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto
University in Japan and colleagues reported theirs in the journal Cell.
The new cells are called induced pluripotent stem cells and look and act
like embryonic stem cells -- the master cells that give rise to every
cell and tissue in the body.
FOUR GENES
Both teams used just four genes to transform ordinary skin cells called
fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells -- iPS cells for short.
"These cells should be useful in understanding disease mechanisms,
searching for effective and safe drugs, and treating patients with cell
therapy," Yamanaka said in a statement. His team got the cells to
develop into heart cells, which then beat in unison.
"This work represents a tremendous scientific milestone -- the
biological equivalent of the Wright Brothers' first airplane," said Dr.
Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology, a company working in the same
field.
"It's not practical to use right now, but it might be in a few years.
This is truly the Holy Grail -- to be able to take a few cells from a
patient -- say a cheek swab or few skin cells -- and turn them into stem
cells in the laboratory."
Yamanaka had first transformed mouse skin cells using four genes, and
then tried his method on human cells. Thomson, whose team first
discovered human embryonic stem cells in 1998, went straight to human
cells using two of the same genes and two different genes.
Each method is likely to be patented separately.
Both teams said the new cells are not ready to use in people yet because
they used a type of virus called a retrovirus to carry the new genes
into the skin cells. It is not clear whether this virus might cause
genetic mutations that could cause cancer or other side effects.
"Even though we have this nice new source of cells it doesn't solve the
downstream problem of getting them into the body and functioning,"
Thomson said.
Wilmut was quoted by the Daily Telegraph this week as saying he was
abandoning human cloning research to pursue the new approach.
But Thomson said he doubted many others in the limited field of human
embryonic stem cell research would follow his lead.
"It is not the time to abandon embryonic stem cell research," he said.
"But I do believe that over time these cells will be used by more and
more labs and human embryonic stem cells will be used by fewer and fewer
labs."
(Editing by Will Dunham and Doina Chiacu)
---http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071120/ts_nm/stemcells_dc
--
John #1782
this research required and requires the use of embryonic stem cells.
you cant discover how to turn somatic cells into stem cells without
having real stem cells to compare them to.
My understanding was that they 'tricked' somatic cells into acting like
embryonic stem cells. Whether one can call them 'embryonic' is a matter
of semantics. They were not the excess products of the union of sperm
and egg from IVF procedures which is the source of the cells used in
previous work.
--
John #1782
.
|
|
|
| User: "snex" |
|
| Title: Re: Stem cells without embryos |
23 Nov 2007 01:35:11 AM |
|
|
On Nov 22, 12:34 am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
In article
<5da4b50c-a3e4-468d-9bf4-35bbd8372...@r31g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
snex<s...@comcast.net> wrote:
On Nov 21, 1:00 am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
This might be a way around the fundies objections, but I'm sure they'll
find something else to cry about. I agree that other lines of research
should continue as well. We won't know which is best unless we do the
research.
---
Skin cells transformed without embryos
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science EditorTue Nov 20, 3:25 PM ET
Researchers have transformed ordinary human skin cells into batches of
cells that look and act like embryonic stem cells -- but without using
cloning technology and without making embryos.
Their breakthroughs, reported on Tuesday, could make possible the
long-sought goal of tailor-made medicine, but without the political,
scientific and ethical roadblock of using human eggs or embryos.
"We can now envisage a time when a simple approach can be used to
produce stem cells that are able to form any tissue from a small sample
taken from any of us," said Ian Wilmut of the University of Edinburgh,
who helped clone the first mammal, Dolly the sheep, in 1997.
The White House immediately welcomed the development, given President
George W. Bush's long opposition to embryo research, even as scientists
said the finding should not be the end of such research.
Two separate teams of researchers achieved the same goal, which doctors
hope someday will lead to tailored medical treatments and a new approach
called regenerative medicine, in which damaged organs can be
re-programmed to repair themselves.
The researchers agree it will be years before the technique could be
used to treat people. More immediately, they say it can be used to study
diseases and to screen drugs.
James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin in Madison and colleagues
reported their finding in the journal Science. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto
University in Japan and colleagues reported theirs in the journal Cell.
The new cells are called induced pluripotent stem cells and look and act
like embryonic stem cells -- the master cells that give rise to every
cell and tissue in the body.
FOUR GENES
Both teams used just four genes to transform ordinary skin cells called
fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells -- iPS cells for short.
"These cells should be useful in understanding disease mechanisms,
searching for effective and safe drugs, and treating patients with cell
therapy," Yamanaka said in a statement. His team got the cells to
develop into heart cells, which then beat in unison.
"This work represents a tremendous scientific milestone -- the
biological equivalent of the Wright Brothers' first airplane," said Dr.
Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology, a company working in the same
field.
"It's not practical to use right now, but it might be in a few years.
This is truly the Holy Grail -- to be able to take a few cells from a
patient -- say a cheek swab or few skin cells -- and turn them into stem
cells in the laboratory."
Yamanaka had first transformed mouse skin cells using four genes, and
then tried his method on human cells. Thomson, whose team first
discovered human embryonic stem cells in 1998, went straight to human
cells using two of the same genes and two different genes.
Each method is likely to be patented separately.
Both teams said the new cells are not ready to use in people yet because
they used a type of virus called a retrovirus to carry the new genes
into the skin cells. It is not clear whether this virus might cause
genetic mutations that could cause cancer or other side effects.
"Even though we have this nice new source of cells it doesn't solve the
downstream problem of getting them into the body and functioning,"
Thomson said.
Wilmut was quoted by the Daily Telegraph this week as saying he was
abandoning human cloning research to pursue the new approach.
But Thomson said he doubted many others in the limited field of human
embryonic stem cell research would follow his lead.
"It is not the time to abandon embryonic stem cell research," he said.
"But I do believe that over time these cells will be used by more and
more labs and human embryonic stem cells will be used by fewer and fewer
labs."
(Editing by Will Dunham and Doina Chiacu)
---http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071120/ts_nm/stemcells_dc
--
John #1782
this research required and requires the use of embryonic stem cells.
you cant discover how to turn somatic cells into stem cells without
having real stem cells to compare them to.
My understanding was that they 'tricked' somatic cells into acting like
embryonic stem cells. Whether one can call them 'embryonic' is a matter
of semantics. They were not the excess products of the union of sperm
and egg from IVF procedures which is the source of the cells used in
previous work.
--
John #1782
without *real* embryonic stem cells, they would not have been able to
pinpoint the exact genes and environmental factors that would enable
somatic cells to revert.
why do you think this breakthrough happened in japan and not the US?
.
|
|
|
| User: "johac" |
|
| Title: Re: Stem cells without embryos |
24 Nov 2007 12:36:47 AM |
|
|
In article
<f54fa5ea-2b7b-465d-a04e-12c10838e082@y43g2000hsy.googlegroups.com>,
snex <snex@comcast.net> wrote:
On Nov 22, 12:34 am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
In article
<5da4b50c-a3e4-468d-9bf4-35bbd8372...@r31g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
snex<s...@comcast.net> wrote:
On Nov 21, 1:00 am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
This might be a way around the fundies objections, but I'm sure they'll
find something else to cry about. I agree that other lines of research
should continue as well. We won't know which is best unless we do the
research.
---
Two separate teams of researchers achieved the same goal, which doctors
hope someday will lead to tailored medical treatments and a new approach
called regenerative medicine, in which damaged organs can be
re-programmed to repair themselves.
The researchers agree it will be years before the technique could be
used to treat people. More immediately, they say it can be used to study
diseases and to screen drugs.
James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin in Madison and colleagues
reported their finding in the journal Science. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto
University in Japan and colleagues reported theirs in the journal Cell.
<snips>
without *real* embryonic stem cells, they would not have been able to
pinpoint the exact genes and environmental factors that would enable
somatic cells to revert.
They knew where the genes were. they just needed to find the right
transcription factors to turn the genes on and off.
why do you think this breakthrough happened in japan and not the US?
Two teams achieved the same results, one was in the US at the U. of
Wisconsin.
--
John #1782
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "Ben Kaufman" |
|
| Title: Re: Stem cells without embryos |
21 Nov 2007 04:34:23 PM |
|
|
The really nice thing is that it is a lot easier to produce cells this way,
according to the article I read.
Ben
On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:00:49 -0800, johac <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
This might be a way around the fundies objections, but I'm sure they'll
find something else to cry about. I agree that other lines of research
should continue as well. We won't know which is best unless we do the
research.
---
Skin cells transformed without embryos
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science EditorTue Nov 20, 3:25 PM ET
Researchers have transformed ordinary human skin cells into batches of
cells that look and act like embryonic stem cells -- but without using
cloning technology and without making embryos.
Their breakthroughs, reported on Tuesday, could make possible the
long-sought goal of tailor-made medicine, but without the political,
scientific and ethical roadblock of using human eggs or embryos.
"We can now envisage a time when a simple approach can be used to
produce stem cells that are able to form any tissue from a small sample
taken from any of us," said Ian Wilmut of the University of Edinburgh,
who helped clone the first mammal, Dolly the sheep, in 1997.
The White House immediately welcomed the development, given President
George W. Bush's long opposition to embryo research, even as scientists
said the finding should not be the end of such research.
Two separate teams of researchers achieved the same goal, which doctors
hope someday will lead to tailored medical treatments and a new approach
called regenerative medicine, in which damaged organs can be
re-programmed to repair themselves.
The researchers agree it will be years before the technique could be
used to treat people. More immediately, they say it can be used to study
diseases and to screen drugs.
James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin in Madison and colleagues
reported their finding in the journal Science. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto
University in Japan and colleagues reported theirs in the journal Cell.
The new cells are called induced pluripotent stem cells and look and act
like embryonic stem cells -- the master cells that give rise to every
cell and tissue in the body.
FOUR GENES
Both teams used just four genes to transform ordinary skin cells called
fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells -- iPS cells for short.
"These cells should be useful in understanding disease mechanisms,
searching for effective and safe drugs, and treating patients with cell
therapy," Yamanaka said in a statement. His team got the cells to
develop into heart cells, which then beat in unison.
"This work represents a tremendous scientific milestone -- the
biological equivalent of the Wright Brothers' first airplane," said Dr.
Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology, a company working in the same
field.
"It's not practical to use right now, but it might be in a few years.
This is truly the Holy Grail -- to be able to take a few cells from a
patient -- say a cheek swab or few skin cells -- and turn them into stem
cells in the laboratory."
Yamanaka had first transformed mouse skin cells using four genes, and
then tried his method on human cells. Thomson, whose team first
discovered human embryonic stem cells in 1998, went straight to human
cells using two of the same genes and two different genes.
Each method is likely to be patented separately.
Both teams said the new cells are not ready to use in people yet because
they used a type of virus called a retrovirus to carry the new genes
into the skin cells. It is not clear whether this virus might cause
genetic mutations that could cause cancer or other side effects.
"Even though we have this nice new source of cells it doesn't solve the
downstream problem of getting them into the body and functioning,"
Thomson said.
Wilmut was quoted by the Daily Telegraph this week as saying he was
abandoning human cloning research to pursue the new approach.
But Thomson said he doubted many others in the limited field of human
embryonic stem cell research would follow his lead.
"It is not the time to abandon embryonic stem cell research," he said.
"But I do believe that over time these cells will be used by more and
more labs and human embryonic stem cells will be used by fewer and fewer
labs."
(Editing by Will Dunham and Doina Chiacu)
---
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071120/ts_nm/stemcells_dc
.
|
|
|
| User: "johac" |
|
| Title: Re: Stem cells without embryos |
22 Nov 2007 12:36:53 AM |
|
|
In article <eec9k3153umfc6527f4nnkhvmr6dr60ut6@4ax.com>,
Ben Kaufman <spaXm-mXe-anXd-paXy-5000-dollars@pobox.com> wrote:
The really nice thing is that it is a lot easier to produce cells this way,
according to the article I read.
That too. It doesn't depend on finding egg donors or getting permission
from those undergoing IVF procedures either.
Ben
On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:00:49 -0800, johac <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
This might be a way around the fundies objections, but I'm sure they'll
find something else to cry about. I agree that other lines of research
should continue as well. We won't know which is best unless we do the
research.
---
Skin cells transformed without embryos
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science EditorTue Nov 20, 3:25 PM ET
Researchers have transformed ordinary human skin cells into batches of
cells that look and act like embryonic stem cells -- but without using
cloning technology and without making embryos.
Their breakthroughs, reported on Tuesday, could make possible the
long-sought goal of tailor-made medicine, but without the political,
scientific and ethical roadblock of using human eggs or embryos.
"We can now envisage a time when a simple approach can be used to
produce stem cells that are able to form any tissue from a small sample
taken from any of us," said Ian Wilmut of the University of Edinburgh,
who helped clone the first mammal, Dolly the sheep, in 1997.
The White House immediately welcomed the development, given President
George W. Bush's long opposition to embryo research, even as scientists
said the finding should not be the end of such research.
Two separate teams of researchers achieved the same goal, which doctors
hope someday will lead to tailored medical treatments and a new approach
called regenerative medicine, in which damaged organs can be
re-programmed to repair themselves.
The researchers agree it will be years before the technique could be
used to treat people. More immediately, they say it can be used to study
diseases and to screen drugs.
James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin in Madison and colleagues
reported their finding in the journal Science. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto
University in Japan and colleagues reported theirs in the journal Cell.
The new cells are called induced pluripotent stem cells and look and act
like embryonic stem cells -- the master cells that give rise to every
cell and tissue in the body.
FOUR GENES
Both teams used just four genes to transform ordinary skin cells called
fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells -- iPS cells for short.
"These cells should be useful in understanding disease mechanisms,
searching for effective and safe drugs, and treating patients with cell
therapy," Yamanaka said in a statement. His team got the cells to
develop into heart cells, which then beat in unison.
"This work represents a tremendous scientific milestone -- the
biological equivalent of the Wright Brothers' first airplane," said Dr.
Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology, a company working in the same
field.
"It's not practical to use right now, but it might be in a few years.
This is truly the Holy Grail -- to be able to take a few cells from a
patient -- say a cheek swab or few skin cells -- and turn them into stem
cells in the laboratory."
Yamanaka had first transformed mouse skin cells using four genes, and
then tried his method on human cells. Thomson, whose team first
discovered human embryonic stem cells in 1998, went straight to human
cells using two of the same genes and two different genes.
Each method is likely to be patented separately.
Both teams said the new cells are not ready to use in people yet because
they used a type of virus called a retrovirus to carry the new genes
into the skin cells. It is not clear whether this virus might cause
genetic mutations that could cause cancer or other side effects.
"Even though we have this nice new source of cells it doesn't solve the
downstream problem of getting them into the body and functioning,"
Thomson said.
Wilmut was quoted by the Daily Telegraph this week as saying he was
abandoning human cloning research to pursue the new approach.
But Thomson said he doubted many others in the limited field of human
embryonic stem cell research would follow his lead.
"It is not the time to abandon embryonic stem cell research," he said.
"But I do believe that over time these cells will be used by more and
more labs and human embryonic stem cells will be used by fewer and fewer
labs."
(Editing by Will Dunham and Doina Chiacu)
---
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071120/ts_nm/stemcells_dc
--
John #1782
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
