Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Using Liquid Crystals to Guide Stem Cells

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the building-hearts-and-minds dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Liquid crystals, the same phase-shifting materials used to display information on cell phones, monitors and other electronic equipment, can also be used to control the differentiation of embryonic stem cells, Wisconsin researchers say. By using the crystals to mechanically strain the cells, they can prevent the indiscriminate (and unwanted) differentiation common in embryonic stem cell research and therapy. So when you want a bone cell, say, you don't end up with one from the kidney."

8 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. Science? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sounds more like black voodoo magic wizardry to me. If God wants it to be a bone cell, they by His name, it will be a bone cell.

    1. Re:Science? by DigiShaman · · Score: 3, Funny

      What? You need God to "bone home"?

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    2. Re:Science? by ArcherB · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sounds more like black voodoo magic wizardry to me

      BLACK voodoo magic? Why does it always have to be a black thing with you?

      --
      There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
  2. what i really want... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...is to grow a new 19' LCD monitor. can we do that? No? Oh screw Bush and his policies

    1. Re:what i really want... by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2, Funny

      "...is to grow a new 19' LCD monitor. can we do that? No? Oh screw Bush and his policies"

      What the hell are you going to do with a 19 foot LCD? Sit in front of it and say "Make it so"?

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  3. And what's so wrong... by jd · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...with having a spare kidney growing instead of a stomach cell? If it works, it'll help make NHS food edible. If it doesn't, it'll replace the NHS food altogether.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  4. "That's strange." by RoffleTheWaffle · · Score: 2, Funny

    "I could've sworn I was going to have my bone tissues replaced, but somehow my femur feels a lot like a kidney today..."

  5. It's only voodoo... by jd · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...if the bone cell has a top hat and tap-dances to Live And Let Die.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)