breakthrough

I have written on stem cell research several times.  I have supported stem cell research.  I have written about stem cell research in my book, A Letter to America.  This break through is very exciting BUT we have had breakthroughs before that haven’t worked out.  We had the South Korean scientist that reported a huge breakthrough in stem cell research only later did we find out that he fudged the data.  The reason that I believe that this isn’t another venture into left field is that 2 different research groups using 2 different methods have the same results.  Skins cells have been made to act like embryonic stem cells.

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From WaPo:

Researchers in Wisconsin and Japan said yesterday that they have turned ordinary human skin cells into what are effectively embryonic stem cells without using embryos or women’s eggs — the previously essential ingredients that have embroiled the medically promising field in a nearly decade-long political and ethical debate.

The ability to turn adult cells into embryo-like ones capable of morphing into virtually every kind of cell or tissue, described in two scientific journal articles yesterday, has been a major goal of researchers for years. In theory, it would allow people to grow personalized replacement parts for their bodies from their skin cells and give researchers a powerful means of understanding and treating diseases.  (more…)