Also note that the press release implicitly
points to a good reason not to use embryonic stem
cells:
The two-inch long mini-kidneys were
then transplanted into
genetically
identical cows.
In order to avoid tissue rejection, they're
using a genetically identical embryo to produce
the stem cell line. In an experiment, you can
get that cell line by starting with two cow
embyros that are twins. You let the transplant
recipient grow up, and you destory the other
embyro to produce a cell line. If you try to
use this as a treatment, you won't have a
genetically identical emyronic stem cell line conveniently lying around. Instead, you'll have
to produce one by cloning, which is difficult,
very expensive, and tends to produce genetic
errors. If the process had instead been designed
to use stem cells harvested from the adult
transplant recipient, there would be no need for
cloning, which would likely make it simpler,
faster, and cheaper.
Space Imaging's best offering is a 1m panchromatic resolution image
QuickBird's resolution is 61cm at nadir (pointing
straight down), but 72cm when pointing 25 degrees
cross-track. IKONOS' resolution is 81-100cm
(nadir - 26 degrees cross-track). So the
resolution difference isn't as large as it appears
at first. The reason to point cross-track is
to get the revisit time down from 3-4 days to
1-1.5 days.
SpaceImaging only sells 1m processed imagery
(rather than 0.82-1m raw imagery) because they
believe that's where the market is: they don't
want other companies to buy raw imagery and
undercut their processed imagery prices.
DigitalGlobe obviously has a different business
model. If selling raw imagery works for them,
SpaceImaging may do the same.
The Dead Sea currently covers the sites of
these two cities. They were destroyed in the 19th
century BC, so that's removed from the supposed
impact by 500 years and over 500 miles. Their
destruction was caused by an event localized to
the "cities of the plain," not something that
caused damage in a 500 mile radius.
Slashdot Mirror
I really enjoyed this story when I read it almost two weeks ago: Blue Marble [slashdot.org]
Also note that the press release implicitly points to a good reason not to use embryonic stem cells:
In order to avoid tissue rejection, they're using a genetically identical embryo to produce the stem cell line. In an experiment, you can get that cell line by starting with two cow embyros that are twins. You let the transplant recipient grow up, and you destory the other embyro to produce a cell line. If you try to use this as a treatment, you won't have a genetically identical emyronic stem cell line conveniently lying around. Instead, you'll have to produce one by cloning, which is difficult, very expensive, and tends to produce genetic errors. If the process had instead been designed to use stem cells harvested from the adult transplant recipient, there would be no need for cloning, which would likely make it simpler, faster, and cheaper.
Space Imaging's best offering is a 1m panchromatic resolution image QuickBird's resolution is 61cm at nadir (pointing straight down), but 72cm when pointing 25 degrees cross-track. IKONOS' resolution is 81-100cm (nadir - 26 degrees cross-track). So the resolution difference isn't as large as it appears at first. The reason to point cross-track is to get the revisit time down from 3-4 days to 1-1.5 days. SpaceImaging only sells 1m processed imagery (rather than 0.82-1m raw imagery) because they believe that's where the market is: they don't want other companies to buy raw imagery and undercut their processed imagery prices. DigitalGlobe obviously has a different business model. If selling raw imagery works for them, SpaceImaging may do the same.
The Dead Sea currently covers the sites of these two cities. They were destroyed in the 19th century BC, so that's removed from the supposed impact by 500 years and over 500 miles. Their destruction was caused by an event localized to the "cities of the plain," not something that caused damage in a 500 mile radius.