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Stem Cells in the Heart?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the heart-could-be-heartier dept.

NewScientist reports that researchers have discovered stem cells in the heart, leading them to believe that the heart can regenerate itself. From the article: "The finding raises the possibility that these cardiac stem cells could one day be manipulated to rebuild tissues damaged by heart disease - still the leading cause of death in the US and UK. Because fully developed heart cells do not divide, experts have believed the organ was unable to regenerate after injury. But, in 2003, researchers at Piero Anversa's laboratory at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York, US, discovered stem cells in the hearts of mice, and subsequently humans. However, they still did not know whether these stem cells actually resided in the heart or had merely migrated there from another tissue, such as bone marrow."

17 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. Oh no by smvp6459 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does this mean I won't be getting that gorilla heart?

    1. Re:Oh no by grammar+fascist · · Score: 2, Funny

      Does this mean I won't be getting that gorilla heart?

      Even better: you could grow a new gorilla heart, if that kind of thing floats your boat. I'm going to go out on a limb and say it does, along with having a chicken brain implanted in your butt to drive your legs more efficiently.

      --
      I got my Linux laptop at System76.
  2. Protest by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Let me be the first to say I oppose removal of people's hearts to extract stem cells from them.

    1. Re:Protest by paulthomas · · Score: 4, Funny

      Removal of a person's heart to extract stem cells from it STOPS A BEATING HEART!!!!!

      that is all.

    2. Re:Protest by TheDreadSlashdotterD · · Score: 1, Funny

      In Soviet Russia, Heart stops beating YOU!

      --
      I have nothing to say.
  3. Re:Hmmm by nmb3000 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now instead of heart attacks from clogged arteries, people can get heart attacks from a kidney forming inside of their heart!

    At least people don't need to worry anymore that they'll wake up in a bathtub full of ice with a fresh scar on their side. Why steal a kidney when you can take a heart instead and get a 2-for-1 deal?

    --
    "What do you despise? By this are you truly known." --Princess Irulan, Manual of Muad'Dib
    /)
  4. Heart Removal... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh so that crazy witch-doctor guy in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" wasn't just performing some satanic ritual...he was harvesting stemcells for the benefeit of medical science...how nice of him.

  5. Good news for lovers by bakayoko · · Score: 3, Funny

    I just shared the news with my roommates, who are going through an awfully difficult break-up.

    They've been so upset for so long, and today when I told them about how their hearts can regenerate, I think I saw hope in their eyes for the first time...

    --
    A decibel - a RELATIONSHIP between two values of POWER http://arts.ucsc.edu/EMS/Music/tech_background/TE-
  6. Truly, you are a master geek... by ChePibe · · Score: 5, Funny

    "their OEM heart"

    Wow. I've never actually heard organs referred to as OEM.

    Imagine an organ transplant...

    "Well, sir, we can pop in this OEM model here, but it's pretty pricey. We do, however, have this third-party Korean heart that we could slap on in there, but it would violate your warranty and, lemme tell ya', those boys in inspections on the other side are unforgiving of that sort of thing. Of course, we could just throw a refurb in there, but those can be hard to come by..."

    All in good humor of course, thanks for your informative post

    1. Re:Truly, you are a master geek... by grammar+fascist · · Score: 4, Funny

      Wow. I've never actually heard organs referred to as OEM.

      I don't think I could ever own a heart that came in a white box.

      --
      I got my Linux laptop at System76.
  7. Bacon... by DAldredge · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yum! You said Bacon...

    *Drools*

  8. Great news by I+Like+Pudding · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've always believed that eating the heart of a fallen enemy would give me his courage. Getting his stem cells to boot is a totally unexpected bonus.

    1. Re:Great news by Thing+1 · · Score: 2, Funny
      I've always believed that eating the heart of a fallen enemy would give me his courage.

      That's really weird thinking, there. "I want to be more like this fool who rushed into my sword?"

      --
      I feel fantastic, and I'm still alive.
    2. Re:Great news by I+Like+Pudding · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm eating his courage, not his inability to parry. The stem cells are just gravy. Literally.

  9. Dr Who Can Regenerate (Now We Can Regenerate too! by wolverine1999 · · Score: 2, Funny

    So now it will be relatively easy to imitate Dr Who's regeneration ability. Remember the Doctor has two hearts, too, so we could grow an extra heart also. Hmmm...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lJUdZqoOdU

    --
    SCIREV.NET - fanfics,reviews & more
  10. Niche by Flyboy+Connor · · Score: 2, Funny
    "Stem Cells of the Heart"

    A chick flick aimed at cardiologists.

  11. Political implications by Nuffsaid · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh, no! This means that the Bush Administration will soon outlaw owning a heart! At least, one funded by taxpayers.

    --
    Nuffsaid
    ________

    Don't know about his cat, but Schroedinger is definitely dead.