Stem Cells Mend Spinal Injuries

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."

Comments

Re:Only in the bible belt or Teheran :-)

[BerntB]

eveloution is taught in school as the best possible theory

The muslims from the Middle East I've spoken with were taught creationism. Not so in Iran?

So... Iran is a relatively nice place except for being a dictatorship with faked elections?

OK, ok, it fits with what I've read. Next time I want to compare the US' midwest with something insulting, I'll pick Saudi Arabia. Happy? :-)

And I was being insulting. Even in the bible belt, they have different churches and more or less tolerate different opinions.

Since you're from Iran, I have two questions.

a) I've heard the argument that the longer the Iran's priests keep the population down, the better. When the religious nuts then lose power, they will be so hated that Iran will treat religion as we north europeans. Comments?

b) Is this really part of the dogma? I heard a muslim guy argue that:

1. To blaspheme against is punishable by death for a muslim (Rushdie, etc)
2. Islam is obviously true, because muslim scholars never publish anything contradicting the religion!

I still laugh when I think about "b)", almost fifteen years later.

I agree wit a lot..

[NemesisNL]

you are saying. I've read the koran, I have it at home standing next to the bible and some books by krishnamurti. The koran is in general a more tolerant book then the bible. I'm not claiming to much knowledge because as the bible it is a hard book to read. But the general feeling I got was one of genuine worship and tolerance for all other believes. I guess it's as with any faith..... it's the people that corrupt it. The crusades where never a christian idea... they were an idea from powerfull people wanting to be more powerfull. I gues all faiths have men like these. I'm sorry for all muslims that are persecuted because of the deeds of a few extremists. We have our own problems here in the Netherlands and I basicaly think we should keep faith out of it. There is a more fundamental issue. If you are a mulsim, jew, christian or budhist and you want to live here all you have to do is accept that my country has democratic values under wich you can be what ever your faith requires you to be. As long as you do not opose the rights of others to do the same thing. We are a tolerant country and if you do not like that fact that gays can get married here, that it is ok not to believe in any god, that it is ok to believe whatever you want as long as it's not hatefull to others .....you do not belong here and should leave or stay away.