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Stem Cells Mend Spinal Injuries

Posted by Zonk on from the magic-glue dept.

Darkman, Walkin Dude writes "New research shows that rats that had their spinal columns severed were able to regain use of their hind legs through the use of stem cells from embryonic rats." From the Wired article: "Spinal cord injuries can be caused by accidents or infections and affect 250,000 people a year in the United States alone, costing $4 billion annually, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders. Whittemore's team took specific cells from rat embryos called glial restricted precursor cells -- a kind of stem cell or master cell that gives rise to nerve cells."

3 of 331 comments (clear)

  1. I for one... by HugePedlar · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    ...welcome our new soulless, embryo-munching overlords.

    --
    Argh.
  2. Hey that's great for the paraplegic... by Trogre · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    ...but what's in it for the embryo?

    Look it's great that they can use cells that were supposedly going to be thrown out anyway but what happens when demand increases and that supply runs out?

    If stem cells cannot yet be extracted without killing the host where is that going to lead?

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
  3. Re:We're not persuing this as fast as we can becau by X0563511 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    fucking troll.

    Excuse me while i scrub my eyes clean with a wire brush and super-concentrate quat sanitizer.

    --
    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...