Slashdot Mirror


Functional Neurons Created From Adult Somatic Cells

mmmscience writes "Researchers at UCLA have accomplished a task that has long vexed stem cell researchers: They've created the first electronically active neurons from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. This is a great leap forward for stem cell researchers, who can apply these neurons to the study of neurodegenerative diseases."

3 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. How long was I in there? by COMON$ · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Why aren't we Funding this?!

    Sorry for the flame, But wow, it turns out you don't need to run the pissing matches with the pro life activists to get things done.

    --
    CS: It is all sink or swim...oh and did I mention there are sharks in that water?
    1. Re:How long was I in there? by thedonger · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You have missed the point entirely. The Point, not just a point. The zealots, as you call them, have just as much right as anyone to voice an opinion, and the average man on the street has the same right to believe it. Idealists from both ends of the spectrum exist, and while the overwhelming majority of Americans do not fall directly in line behind those of any ilk, we have all allowed the vocal minority to take over the conversation.

      Today's secret phrase is Rational Discourse. Now we just have to figure out where Speaker Pelosi has hidden it...

      --
      Help fight poverty: Punch a poor person.
  2. In preparation for the inevitable comments by JoshuaZ · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Pretty soon the people not in favor of using embryonic stem research will likely join this thread and start talking about how we can just use adult cells and how that means we should never do any research on embryonic stem cells. However, this research, like most research involving adult stem cells, relied on prior work with embryonic stem cells. This sort of research is only doable because of embryonic stem cell research.