MetaFilter posts tagged with Science and stemcells

I'm sure this'll end well....

zarq — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:48:15 -0800

We may soon be able to clone Neanderthals. But should we? An essay from Archaeology Magazine examines the ethical, scientific and legal ramifications. (Via Heather Pringle's Time Machine blog, where essay author Zach Zorich posted a reply and elicited a response.) Background: Last year, a team of researchers led by geneticist Svante Pääbo at the Max Planck Institute announced that they had completed a draft sequence of the Neanderthal genome. The project was begun in 2006. William Saletan covered some of the same ground in Slate in 2008, as did Reason.com last year: One science fiction trope says that it is impossible for two intelligent species to evolve simultaneously on the same planet since one would inevitably out-compete the other. This may have happened on our planet. Neanderthals disappeared around the same time that modern humans began to move into their territory. New research suggests that our ancestors killed them off. Perhaps we should use modern science to resurrect Neanderthals in order to right an ancestral wrong.

Learn.Genetics

netbros — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:35:03 -0800

grumblebee's post about cell size and scale the other day was quite fascinating. Pulling back to the home for that site, the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah delivers educational materials on genetics, bio-science and health topics ranging from stem cells to gene therapy, and from epigenetics to heredity. Explore the neurobiology of normal and addicted brains and the genetic contribution to this chronic disease.

I give them 50 years for me.

StrikeTheViol — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:56:07 -0800

Functional Neurons Induced From Adult Stem Cells. Meanwhile, stem cells may be better than bone marrow for certain cancers, and have the potential to revolutionize the supply of blood. Anecdotal success stories continue to pile up.

Clones produced from mice frozen for 16 years

homunculus — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:42:14 -0800

Production of healthy cloned mice from bodies frozen at −20°C for 16 years. Mammoths next?

retrovirally transforming pancreatic cells from adult mice into insulin-producing beta cells

kliuless — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:51:39 -0800

Scientists Repurpose Adult Cells - "Scientists have transformed one type of fully developed adult cell directly into another inside a living animal, a startling advance that could lead to cures for a variety of illnesses and sidestep the political and ethical quagmires associated with embryonic stem cell research." [nature abstract, nature writeup, audio announcement]

Stem Cell Breakthrough

homunculus — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:32:15 -0800

Scientists report a breakthrough in stem cell production: Stem cells created from ALS patient and used to make neurons. [Via]

28 Days Later...more stem cells!

Asparagirl — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:32:43 -0800

Scientists have discovered that "endometrial regenerative cells" (ERC's) -- in other words, human menstrual blood -- contains stem cells. ERC-derived stem cells seem to have a number of superior traits to both bone marrow derived and umbilical cord derived stem cells, the previous gold standards: they can give rise to a variety of different cell lines without differentiation, they multiply more quickly than other stem cells, they are able to replicate more times without adversely mutating, and they apparently do not need to be closely genetically matched to the recipient. Now some women have even begun banking their menstrual blood to preserve their stem cells through a company called "C'Elle: Your Monthly Miracle" -- check out their FAQ and online video. This follows last May's announcement that menstrual blood derived cells can pretty much cure Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in mice, a disease for which there is no current therapeutic treatment available.

Children's Hospital Boston

homunculus — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:54:59 -0800

Interactive Features at the Children's Hospital Boston's Website. [Via Mind Hacks.]

Is the Stem Cell Debate (almost) Over?

switchsonic — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:41:14 -0800

After recent promising results demonstrating the ability to change mouse skin cells into stem cells, researchers have replicated this change in human skin cells in papers published in Science and Cell (access to full articles requires subscription) . The White House, somehow, is trying to take credit for this. The potential of all this: huge.

Stem Cells Today

StrikeTheViol — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:22:32 -0800

Stem Cell Treatment in China. A site showcasing Beike Biotech, a company that seems to be getting more attention nowadays, with a very straightforward approach. Meanwhile, some recent hard science.

Adult skin stem cells heal spinal injuries

Artifice_Eternity — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:50:06 -0800

Canadian scientists heal spinal injuries with stem cells from skin (in rats). "Over the course of their research, the team found that skin-derived stem cells share characteristics with embryonic neural stem cells, which generate the nervous system. ... After 12 weeks, the rats were able to walk better, with more co-ordination." Previously on the Blue: Making adult stem cells embryonic, regenerating liver tissue with adult bone marrow stem cells

Is "Virgin Birth" hyperbolic enough?

nowonmai — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 14:02:25 -0800

I'm sure everyone remembers last year's kerfuffle about Hwang Woo-Suk, the disgraced scientist who fraudulently claimed to have created human embryonic stem cells by cloning. Well, it turns out he actually did something more remarkable - he created human stem cells from unfertilised eggs by parthenogenesis. The verification of this was published with a suitably dry title for consumption by scientists, but the popular press was quick to jump on more loaded phrases.

Embryo-free Embryonic Stem-Cells

homunculus — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:56:32 -0800

Simple switch turns cells embryonic. "Researchers have finally hit the jackpot: Embryo-free embryonic stem-cells!"

British Scientists Grow Heart Valve Tissue from Stem Cells

jason's_planet — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 08:09:25 -0800

A British research team led by the world's leading heart surgeon has grown part of a human heart from stem cells for the first time.

Creating Liver Tissue from Bone Marrow Stem Cells

jason's_planet — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 07:58:46 -0800

For the first time, researchers have used adult bone marrow stem cells to regenerate healthy human liver tissue, according to a study published in the April issue of the journal Radiology.

Creation of Lung Cells from Embryonic Stem Cells

jason's_planet — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:25:08 -0800

"Molecular scientists . . . have developed a new procedure for the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells, with which they have created the first transplantable source of lung epithelial cells."

Stem Cells in nature

Gyan — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 08:12:29 -0800

Nature has a somewhat technical but free supplement on stem cells (alongwith a podcast and related blog).

Stem Cells - Rumor vs. Reality

daksya — Sun, 26 Jun 2005 23:04:08 -0800

Stem cell pioneer does a reality check

Of Stem Cells and Neanderthals

willns — Mon, 24 Jan 2005 10:33:48 -0800

Come out, experts from the woodworks! Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc are sugars found on cells present in nearly every mammal, from chimps to pigs. When scientists altered the genes of mice so that they couldn't produce them, the mice died. However, unlike our closest relatives, humans lack a gene that makes Neu5Gc. The gene is not gone, but rendered silent by a fatal mutation, one that occured approximately 500,000 ago. Now, note that it is illegal to produce any new embryonic stem cell lines. Any scientist will tell you that extant and legal human stem cell lines have been existing in calf serum and often on layers of mouse "feeder" cells for growth. As such, they are immersed in a bath of antigen and if re-introdcued would elicit a strong immune response. I.e. although of human origin, they would be treated as foreign cells if injected. It is likely they would be rejected if injected with today's techniques anyway, but this may represent another significant hurdle for research, one that could be sidestepped with more progressive policy. (Via The Regular)

The Real Deal on Stem Cells

Gyan — Sun, 24 Oct 2004 14:31:21 -0800

Stem Cells: Science, Ethics and Politics at the Crossroads

Stem Cell Research

skallas — Mon, 31 May 2004 10:17:05 -0800

The False Controversy of Stem Cell Research. Kinsley: In fact, thinking it through is a moral obligation, especially if you are on the side of the argument that wants to stop or slow this research. It's not complicated. An embryo used in stem-cell research (and fertility treatments) is three to five days past conception. It consists of a few dozen cells that together are too small to be seen without a microscope. It has no consciousness, no self-awareness, no ability to feel love or pain. The smallest insect is far more human in every respect except potential.

No stem cell research

homunculus — Wed, 24 Mar 2004 21:17:35 -0800

Thou shalt not make scientific progress. "Medical research is poised to make a quantum leap that will benefit sufferers from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, muscular dystrophy, diabetes and other diseases. But George W. Bush's religious convictions stand in its way."

Scientists in Singapore have grown 'clean' human embryonic stem cells

homunculus — Tue, 06 Aug 2002 00:19:33 -0800

Scientists in Singapore have grown 'clean' human embryonic stem cells which would pose no threat of infection by animal pathogens if transplanted. Previous ESC lines were mixed with animal cells. Meanwhile in the US, surprisingly little has been accomplished with ESCs in the last year due to the chilling effect of the political controversy. And because of Bush's decision a year ago, any new 'clean' ESC lines could not be be used in federally funded research.

Controversial new bill

Leonard — Thu, 09 May 2002 06:37:40 -0800

Controversial new bill to lay out reproductive technology guidelines. Canadian version of this battle doesn't seem to feature as many religious wackos. It's just not as fun without them.

China hopes to make a great leap forward in Stem Cell Research

AsiaInsider — Wed, 06 Mar 2002 17:35:56 -0800

China hopes to make a great leap forward in Stem Cell Research Does anyone else find this a little troubling? Are all the clones going to look like Jiang Zemin?