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Cure for Mouse Pattern Baldness?

Posted by michael on from the saving-bruce-willis dept.

superfearo writes "Wired News reports that scientists have found a way to grow new hair follicles on hairless mice using stem cells. Of course, these Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers hope to use this procedure to grow hair, skin, and even sebaceous glands in humans. The stem cells used in this research were not extracted from embryos, but rather from the skin of the mice. So if the same can be done with humans, this procedure can perhaps avoid any controversy."

6 of 24 comments (clear)

  1. controversy by nuggetman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    no, there will still be controversy, simply because the words "stem cells" are included. it's just how it is... people will forever associate it with abortion now, and until they can shake that stigma theres no other option.

    --
    ...and that's all there is to it.
    1. Re:controversy by OwlofCreamCheese · · Score: 3, Insightful

      bah... just do like they do with NMRIs... arbitarily change the name... just make up a new name for stem cells from adults, even a non scientific one for press releases and problem solved.

      --
      -You're wasting your time. Alfador only likes me.
    2. Re:controversy by RsG · · Score: 3, Informative

      Oy, how may times will this ignorance rear it's ugly head.

      Look no-one, and I do mean no one, gets stem cells from abortions. Google it for fucks sake people! Embryonic stem cells are aquired from fertility clinics _not_ abortion clinics.

      The problem is that people associate "clinic" and "embryonic" with abortion; these clinics are for IVF, used to help couples concieve. THEY ARE THE POLAR OPPOSITE OF AN ABORTION CLINIC!!

      The stems cells in question come from the leftover fetralized embryos that don't get implanted in the mother (there are a lot of these, due to the present ineffeciency wrt IVF). No abortion takes place, since pregnancy never occured, or at least not with these embryos.

      The trouble arises from the view some pro-lifers have that "life begins at conception". If you beleive this, then fine, you have a reason to oppose stem cell research (although I disagree). But if your problem is soley with abortion, then you should educate yourself, and not simply beleive everything your told by the scientifically illiterate. Just becasue somebody shares your point of view on an issue, doesn't mean they're more informed than you are. Do your own research, and make sure you get a may people's viewpoints!

      --
      Erotic is when you use a feather. Exotic is when you use the whole chicken.
  2. Suddenly.. by maddh · · Score: 3, Funny

    .. Dick Cheney changes the administration's position on stem cells.

  3. Wonderful by JavaRob · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...researchers hope to use this procedure to grow hair, skin, and even sebaceous glands in humans.

    ALL NEW! You can have the skin you did as a teenager! Just a simple surgery, and your skin can be 30 years younger... unwrinkled, supple, and as spotty as a flesh-colored cheetah.

  4. Real potential by mcpres · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The real potential with this procedure is in what else may come from his techniques. While finding a treatment/cure for baldness would be great, if the hair follicle stem cells can be induce into differentiating into other cell types it could provide treatments to countless other diseases and medical problems with much less controversy.