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Safe Stem Cells Produced From Adult Cells

Posted by Soulskill on from the spare-parts dept.

hackingbear writes "Wired, citing a paper published in Science magazine, reports that Harvard scientists may have found a safer way of giving a flake of skin the biologically alchemical powers of embryonic stem cells by turning adult cells into versatile, embryonic-like cells without causing permanent damage. The technique involves 'adding cell-reprogramming genes to adenoviruses, a type of virus that infects cells without affecting their DNA.' Four-month trials on mice demonstrated that the resulting stem cells are free from unpredictable cancer-inducing mutations. This is definitely a breakthrough in stem cell research." Additional coverage is available at Yahoo, and Science hosts the research paper, although you'll need a subscription to see more than the abstract.

7 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Further Research by Tubal-Cain · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...missing an arm and leg.

    Did he need to pay for gas?

  2. Re:Only on mice, for now by flyingsquid · · Score: 4, Funny

    Instead we're faced with the new controversy that every skin cell you shed can be considered an embryo that, with the correct application of medical science, can now become a child.

    Exfoliation is MURDER!!!

  3. Re:Further Research by Thaddeaus · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wasn't, but now that you mention it....

  4. Re:Further Research by couchslug · · Score: 4, Funny

    "We need to find a short blond kid missing an arm and leg."

    Or make one.

    --
    "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  5. Re:Only on mice, for now by somersault · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's okay - you're worth it

    --
    which is totally what she said
  6. Re:Hmmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Look out behind you! In your closet! Under your bed! It's "the republicans"!!!!!

  7. Re:Stem cells in teeth by raistlinwolf · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm looking forward to thinkgeek "kiss me, I have BC3S-L1" hats and shirts.