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Scientists Grow Human Thymus From Stem Cells

Posted by timothy on from the vote-for-the-next-organ-to-grow dept.

knight_23 writes: "The Herald Sun reports that Australian researchers have grown a functioning thymus from stem cells. The thymus is a small organ that is critical to the immune system. Human trials could begin within two years."

4 of 300 comments (clear)

  1. Umbilical Stem Cells by Yoda2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It is too bad that more hospitals aren't allowing the donation of umbilical stem cells (stem cells collected from cord blood). They are largely an untapped resource and are usually considered PC even in the most conservative camps.

    1. Re:Umbilical Stem Cells by lobsterGun · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Even though the hospital may not support fetal stem cell donation, that does not stop you from banking the cells yourself. There are commercial services that will bank these cells for you for a resasonable fee. ViaCord and CBR are two such services.

      I chose CBR for my son. I pray that he never needs the cells, but if he does, they will be there.

  2. Re:politcal debate by Kenja · · Score: 4, Insightful
    So because you saw on TV a show where clones where treated as slaves we shouldn't grow new livers for people who are going to die without one?

    The hell?

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  3. Re:politcal debate by gilroy · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Blockquoth the poster:

    Isn't this the creation of an underclass of humans whos purpose it is to serve the higher classes?

    There's no reason it has to be. The beuaty of stem cell use is exactly that you can induce particular organs without having to grow the whole organism. That is, we decant a thymus from the vat instead of cloning and growing a whole new human (a la Parts: The Clonus Horror -- I shudder as much at the movie quality as the idea!).


    So this is actually much less class-warfare-ish than straight cloning-and-harvesting. The real ethical hangup seems to lie in the source of stem cells... the best grade appears to be embryonic, which naturally raises red flags with a large number of people.

    --
    The Mongrel Dogs Who Teach