'Ethical' stem cell crop boosted

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BBC

US researchers have found a way to dramatically increase the harvest of stem cells from adult tissue.

It is a practical step forward in techniques to produce large numbers of stem cells without using embryos.

Using three drug-like chemicals, the team made the procedure 200 times more efficient and twice as fast, the Nature Methods journal reported.

It is hoped stem cells could one day be widely used to repair damaged tissue in diseases and after injuries.

Much of the work on stem cells has focused on those taken from embryos as they have an unlimited capacity to become any of the 220 types of cell in the human body - a so-called pluripotent state

---

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8311055.stm


A chemical platform for improved induction of human iPSCs

Abstract

Looks like pretty cool stuff, and hopefully it'll dramatically improve research in this area. What's especially interesting is that this didn't involve altering the cells by means of a virus, which was previously required (if my memory serves me).

Pity I can't access the full paper at the moment :(

Seems rather pointless when they could just get the cells from embryos.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Scatterbrain

Seems rather pointless when they could just get the cells from embryos.

---

Suck 'em dry!

No, I am glad to see this technology advancing. I have nothing against embryonic stem cell research, but It's also good to know that there are alternatives being developed, just in case some nutter once more takes office and strictly regulates embryonic SCR.

I dont think making a process for harvesting something like this being made 200 times more efficient is useless...good on the scientists who did this.

Wow, this is good news, my father has leukemia and stem cells would be the answer for his remission/cure but no luck so far.

I read a book about stem cell research and the author said that adult stem cells have some uses but they are very limited. The real power lies with embryonic stem cells. The author is a very well respected science and health writer named Eve Herold. She didn't seem to be to thrilled with the prospect of using adult stems in the place of embryotic stem cells. The book is called "Stem Cell Wars," it was very interesting, I recommend it.

The ethical implications of stem cell research are becoming an increasingly popular not to mention a hotly contested topic of debate. Medical experts, religious leaders, and politicians alike all share strong opinions on the matter. But before you take a side, get the facts on why stem cells are causing such a stir and how umbilical cord blood may be the answer to avoiding these moral dilemmas.Stem cells show potential for many different areas of health and medical research, and studying them can help us understand how they transform into the dazzling array of specialized cells that make us what we are. Some of the most serious medical conditions, such as cancer and birth defects, are caused by problems that occur somewhere in this process. A better understanding of normal cell development will allow us to understand and perhaps correct the errors that cause these medical conditions.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Photolysis

Pity I can't access the full paper at the moment :(

---

There's a PDF posted online here, but it looks like it's not easy reading.

Thanks DuB, much appreciated.