Human Blood Cells Grown

exceed writes: "MSNBC has an interesting article on researchers that have developed the first human blood cells by growing embryonic stem cells in a culture containing mouse tissue which encouraged development of blood cells. The result, they report, was cell colonies that 'appear identical to those produced from human bone marrow cells.' Similar work has been done like this with mice, but this is the first time human blood cells have been developed from embryonic stem cells."

Comments

Gene crossover ?

[purduephotog]

I hope there is at least some study done on whether or not there has been any gene contamination from the mouse cells. There is concern that several of the strains of 'allowed' stem cell lines are already contaminated with mouse DNA and not viable for placement into humans...

Perhaps a Genome project again?

This work & the stem cell debate

[hillct]

Unfortunately, the findings of this research will take a back seat to this information, on most national news outlets:

Thomson is a pioneer in the development of embryonic stem cells and his university holds five cell lines that are available for research under federal rules. Kaufman said this particular work was not done using federal funds.

How namy institutions are able to carry out research of this type given the fact that only a few cell lines exist that are eligable for federal funds. While lack of federal funds clearly don't prevent research (as demonstrated here) the federal government is one of the largest contributors to academic research in the United states. The policy of the currant administration has made this type of research into a closed market, that only the select few may now work in.

--CTH

Stem Cell Question?

[dragons_flight]

The question I am about to ask may be horribly naive, but I am trying to be serious as this would have weight with me when considering the ethical implications of stem cells.

Is it possible to take stem cells, possibly subject them to some procedure, and then reinsert them into a uterus such that they will function as a new zygote?

Afterall a zygote (fertilized egg) is a type of cell, albeit a rather special one. Typically stem cells are harvested from relatively early in the embryonic development cycle, and hence are not far removed from the zygote. I know the possibility sounds like something out of Brave New World, but if I understand correctly identical twins do something similar. In the formation of identical twins, cells from the original embryo seperate at an early stage but continue developing to form another whole person, or at least that's what I've been told.

Maybe it's a bit much to hope for, but maybe one of Slashdot's readers has enough background in stem cell research to comment on the possiblity I raise.

No no.

[Tim]

Our cells will not exchange DNA between themselves, or with cells of other types. Not naturally, anyway.

The concern is that mouse cell lines may be contaminated with viruses that could infect human cell lines. Just like several new strains of flu seem to come out of China every year due to pig/people interactions, this type of contamination could have serious public health implications.