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Regenerated Nerve Cells Let Rats Walk Again

Posted by timothy on from the then-comes-human-doctor-number-two dept.

SteamyMobile writes "Paralysis by spinal cord injuries through accidents must be one of the most horrible life-altering experiences imaginable, often affecting young, active people, and so far there has been no effective treatment of it. Researchers at the Miami School of Medicine have found a therapy involving regenerating nerve cells to cross the gap in the spinal cord. 70% of rats could walk again after the therapy. Hopefully this could benefit Christopher Reeves and thousands of others who have had their lives changed so much by spinal injuries."

8 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. WTF? Only Hot People Apply? by thecampbeln · · Score: 1, Funny
    ...often affecting young, active people...

    So what of us hideous, nerd-like beings? It's not a terrible thing simply because some pretty people ain't so pretty no mo. Common ./ editors, was that statement really so necessary?

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    "1984" was ment to be a warning, not a guidebook. You hear that Kim Jong-il!? BushCo?!
  2. Oh Geeze... by thecampbeln · · Score: 2, Funny
    Just call me a jackass... the first 3 times I read that, I saw "attractive", not "active". Durr... Excuse me whilst I make a quick trip to the coffee pot to get an eye opener.

    "Moo, Moo. Moo Moo Moo Moo" (Translation: "Sorry, my bad.")

    --
    "1984" was ment to be a warning, not a guidebook. You hear that Kim Jong-il!? BushCo?!
  3. Math proves Christopher Reeve will walk again! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    A rat can carry around a kilo when it is healthy. I would assume that these 70% rehabilitated lab rats can carry 700 grams. Assuming Chris has lost some weight since the fall and he now weighs 70 kilos, it will only take the combined effort of 100 of these rats for him to walk again!

    Throw in one 'super rat' that tells the other rats what to do, and Segway has some serious competition...

    1. Re:Math proves Christopher Reeve will walk again! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Assuming Chris has lost some weight since the fall and he now weighs 70 kilos, it will only take the combined effort of 100 of these rats for him to walk again!

      Scientists have already figured out how to do this with cockroaches; unfortunately it only allows crippled people to be mobile in the dark. If you turn the light on really fast they slam you right into the fridge.

    2. Re:Math proves Christopher Reeve will walk again! by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 2, Funny
      What if you turn the light on really slowly?

      They still slam you into the fridge, but you see it coming.

  4. Re:not to nitpick by MachDelta · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is Slashdot. Not even the submitters read the articles.

  5. Re:biotechnology vs. bioethics, by a quadriplegic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
    I hope these particular scientists somehow found rats with existing critical injuries

    If I could get out of this chair I would kick your ass up and down Main Street.

  6. Other applications? by Alsee · · Score: 2, Funny

    Does this treatment work in the brain as well? Can it help Bush?

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