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Stem Cells Generated From Adult Cells

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the all-growed-up dept.

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."

4 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. Dunno about this... by Chaffar · · Score: 3, Interesting

    All I know is that this is gonna be used by the religious fr^H^H supporters to say "Aha ! We told you that killing embryos was wrong ! All we needed to do is to give this problem a little bit more thought ... Countless embryos have now been saved from your murderous hands !" Well if the news turns out to be true, then they'd be right :(...

  2. This is good by MobyDisk · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The pie-in-the-sky type of results that people expect from stem cells may only be possible if we can produce these things in mass. This type of research may be the real key to viable stem cell treatments. If you want to grow back another limb, the only way to get enough genetic material is if your own body provides it.

    It would be very ironic if the fear of stem cell research is what yields its ultimate success.

    1. Re:This is good by thule · · Score: 2, Interesting

      And this is exactly why there has been much more success with adult stem cells than there ever has been with embryonic ones. There have been real cures with adult stem cells because the body will accept something that it "knows," otherwise there are problems with rejection. I have my doubts that the embryonic cells can overcome this problem (but you never know).

  3. Nice Dream by SatanicPuppy · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Nothing will kill the controvercy around stem cells. If we found a way to turn post-consumer styrofoam into stems cells, while whitening teeth and curing cancer at the same time, the religious groups would still scream about it.

    It's not about stem cells, see? Or rather, it is but it's not how they're obtained...That's just a nice straw man that they've been holding up (Your godless science is eating our unborn babies!).

    What they're really scared of is all the stuff that they see stem cells leading to. Build a new kidney, fine. Does that kidney have a soul? Why not build a whole new, soulless, person? It's a whole new bio-medical can of worms, and it scares the hell out of them.

    Fortunately, most people are in favor of stem cell research, so it's unlikely the fundies will be able to halt it forever.

    --
    ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.