Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: goofkid on 05/04/2006 20:40:29
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Hi all! What do you think about the studies going on stem cells? Isn't it pretty cool that scientists have already made blood cells from stem cells? How far do u think we'll get?
If you don't know what a stem cell is:
a stem cell is essentially the building block of the human body. The stem cells inside an embryo will eventually give rise to every cell, organ and tissue in the fetus's body. Unlike a regular cell, which can only replicate to create more of its own kind of cell, a stem cell is pluripotent. When it divides, it can make any one of the 220 different cells in the human body. Stem cells also have the capability to self-renew -- they can reproduce themselves many times over.
Goofkid
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there seem to be lots of really cool posibilities with stem cells. however, they ARE very dificult to work with, so tehy may not be quite as useful as we optimistically believe them to be. However (at least in the US) if the government doesn't get off its ass and LET US USE THEM, we'll never atually know what thier potential is.
Are YOUR mice nude? [;)]
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I think it will get as far a the money goes. But you can be certain we only hear of it after it done and there will be many unexpected bumps on the way too.
What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.
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quote:
Originally posted by MayoFlyFarmer
there seem to be lots of really cool posibilities with stem cells. however, they ARE very dificult to work with, so tehy may not be quite as useful as we optimistically believe them to be. However (at least in the US) if the government doesn't get off its ass and LET US USE THEM, we'll never atually know what thier potential is.
Are YOUR mice nude? [;)]
I agree! more experimentation and less govt regulation! (if thats what you meant to say)
Goofkid
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what exaclty do you mean by that hardian?
Are YOUR mice nude? [;)]
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Stem-cell Bollocks:-
" Testicle cells may aid research
Stem cells hold the promise of many new treatments
Scientists believe the human testicle may provide a less controversial source of cells for stem cell research.
Stem cells hold great promise for new treatments for many conditions as they have the ability to become many different types of adult tissue.
But at present the most flexible type is found in human embryos - and their use is mired in controversy.
A German team describes in the journal Nature how it isolated cells from mice testes that seem equally useful.
The possibility of using cells from the testes as an alternative to embryonic stem cells for therapy is intriguing
Scientists already knew certain cells in the testes of newborn mice were able, like embryonic stem cells, to generate numerous different tissue types.
But until now they had not been able to show the same cells existed in adults."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4841786.stm