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Stem Cells Generated From Adult Cells
DrJay writes "Scientist report that introducing only four genes to adult cells is sufficient to convert them to something that looks and acts remarkably like an embryonic stem cell. Although some of the details need to be worked out, if this technique is generally applicable, it may allow the production of an essentially unlimited supply of stem cells. There is a subscription-only report, and Ars Technica's science journal describes the results in some detail for those without subscriptions."
Where did you get that info? The government just isn't providing any funding.
True, but federal funding is usually extremely important to any major scientific research project. As long as the federal government withholds that funding, stem cell research in the US will be limited at best.
The problem lies in the fact that it has become a political issue, and private investment is scared away as a result. There may be individuals that have enough money, but there's too much risk involved.
-Parallax
Basically, it's a standard tool in molecular biology. GFP (an acronym for the creatively named Green Flourescent Protein) is a simple protein that's used as an indicator for all sorts of activity. Biologists, for example, will insert the gfp gene into an organism; if the organism glows, then that bit of gene splicing was successful. In other cases, GFP is tied into various genetic regulatory circuits again as a very convenient indicator.
In this case, the researchers added these "induced pluripotent stem cells" (tagged with the GFP gene) to a very early mouse embryo. Since the mouse had green glowing cells throughout its tissues, and the only grene glowing genes were introduced with the induced stem cells, the stem cells were clearly able to differentiate into many kinds of mature cells.
This research is more significant in that it shows the (apparently) minimal set of factors required to make cells revert to pluripotent forms. If only people would shut up about the politics and let scientists do the research...
Too bad I posted, and won't be able to moderate what looks to be a sparkling and witty discussion...
Transhumanist is simply someone who advocates transhumanism. Transhumanism; an intellectual and cultural movement supporting the use of new sciences and technologies to enhance human capacities and improve the human condition. Transhuman would be a human more evolved than other humans. (Thanks to Wikipedia.org) I don't find Trahshumanism to be arrogant in any way. Someone claiming to be a Transhuman, however, would have to be one arrogant prick.
Mice share around 92% of their DNA code with humans, and much of that is realted to shared functions...
Why should nature re-invent the wheel?
Something that works in mice is likely to work in humans as well.
Source, please. Most of the Christians I know or have read support research on stem cells from other sources, like umbilical cord blood. See for instance this article, which has nothing but good things to say about it: http://www.worldmag.com/articles/10284