The New York Times reported today a group of biologists in Kyoto, Japan may have found a way to produce human stem cells without harming an embryo. As of today, June 7, 2007, the procedure is only applicable to mice but biologists worldwide are optimistic it can be applied to humans too.
The procedure involves injecting skin cells from the mouse with a virus that has been injected with four genes so as to induce pluripotency, that is the regenerative nature or stem cells. The study's results have been confirmed by several other groups.
If the technique can be reproduced in human cells it could potentially end all debate regarding the moral issues regarding stem cell research. No embryos would have to be destroyed in this method of producing stem cells.
The full New York Times article can be found here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/07/science/07cell.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&th&emc=th
-Caleb Williams
1 comment:
Keep up the good work.
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