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Scientists Can Grow Stem Cells In a Petri Dish

Posted by Soulskill on from the we're-cookin'-now dept.

rift321 writes "Scientists safely created induced pluripotent stem cells from human stem cells, and grew them in a petri dish. The previous methods for creating iPSC's involved the use of retroviruses, which rendered the stem cells unacceptable for human implantation due to an increased risk of cancer and mutations. The researchers used a safer, albeit slower process to modify the skin cells, using a cell-penetrating peptide to deliver the needed genes into the cell (PDF). I'd like to hear if anyone has some insight into exactly how close that brings us to everyday-use of stem cells for regenerative therapy, and exactly what obstacles remain before such therapies can be put to use."

4 of 83 comments (clear)

  1. Wow... by tornadothrasher · · Score: 1, Interesting

    this looks pretty promising!

  2. What a shame by jav1231 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What a shame that only stem cells from a fetus are actually good for anything. Otherwise this could be promising.

    Yes, folks, that's sarcasm that will undoubtedly be confused with flamebait. :p

  3. Human Lifespan? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    If we can easily swap decaying/dead organs for fresh ones, How long will the average human live? Today it's generally seen that you can easily live 100 years or more, but people with fresh new organs? What of the mind? I wonder where this will lead for future developments.

  4. Re:Adult stem cells is the answer. by yndrd1984 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The only way to overcome this rejection is to grow the organs from the adult stem cells taken from the recipient herself.

    Unless we clone the patient and get embryonic stem cells from the clone.