Researchers Find Safer Way to Produce Stem Cell Alternative

News Type: Event — Seeded on Mon Mar 2, 2009 9:45 AM EST

Article Source: The Washington Post

The researchers produced the cells by using strands of genetic material, instead of potentially dangerous genetically engineered viruses, to coax skin cells into a state that appears biologically identical to embryonic stem cells.

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{"commentId":5683539,"authorDomain":"jcatom"}

JCAtom

"Stem cell research that requires destroying embryos is going the way of the Model T," Richard M. Doerflinger of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said. "No administration that values science and medical progress over politics will want to divert funds now toward that increasingly obsolete and needlessly divisive approach."

{"commentId":5683539,"threadId":"516114","contentId":"2495999","authorDomain":"jcatom"}

2 votes

#1 - Mon Mar 2, 2009 9:47 AM EST

{"commentId":5686336,"authorDomain":"bobnelsonfrance"}

Bob Nelson.

Important news.

So now perhaps we can get past the futile "stem cells are people" debate, and move on to the real ones:

How far will we go in rebuilding failing organs (dying people)? Who will pay for this "therapy"? (In other words, will the rich guy be able to buy a Petri-dish liver, while the poor guy dies?)

What, exactly, is a liver (or any other organ) that needs replacement? One that is failing, mortally? One that implies dialysis every two weeks? One that has suffered a bout of sickness? Who decides? (And we come back, of course, to "who pays?".)

Of course, there being no universal health insurance in the US, the cost questions are pretty easy to answer.

{"commentId":5686336,"threadId":"516114","contentId":"2495999","authorDomain":"bobnelsonfrance"}

1 vote

#2 - Mon Mar 2, 2009 12:11 PM EST

{"commentId":5698645,"authorDomain":"witchofthenorth"}

Glinda

Yeah but this was developed in Toronto where there is universal healthcare so...

{"commentId":5698645,"threadId":"516114","contentId":"2495999","authorDomain":"witchofthenorth"}

1 vote

#2.1 - Mon Mar 2, 2009 10:49 PM EST

{"commentId":5707587,"authorDomain":"onlywords-6"}

Wordpower

Yeah but this was developed in Toronto where there is universal healthcare so...

..........so............what. When this medical research finally develops into a viable alternative, there is no guarantee it will be paid for under our medicare system, at least here in Canada. As for research and development, most scientific research is done by hospital labs and universities through government grants; that holds true for the U.S. as well. Regardless, let's hope this development can become viable so the stem cell myths the Religious Right and neo cons spew from their bully pulpit will be quashed.

{"commentId":5707587,"threadId":"516114","contentId":"2495999","authorDomain":"onlywords-6"}

1 vote

#2.2 - Tue Mar 3, 2009 12:26 PM EST

{"commentId":5732797,"authorDomain":"witchofthenorth"}

Glinda

Thank you, Captain Obvious. :-p

Next time I'll try to make the sarcastic intent of my comment clearer.

{"commentId":5732797,"threadId":"516114","contentId":"2495999","authorDomain":"witchofthenorth"}

1 vote

#2.3 - Wed Mar 4, 2009 12:05 PM EST

{"commentId":5690616,"authorDomain":"ssvedin-swancreeklandscape-1"}

Grandpastephen

I am sure that we can leave it to our government to decide who is worthy of help, they will lookout for the good of all of us won't they?

{"commentId":5690616,"threadId":"516114","contentId":"2495999","authorDomain":"ssvedin-swancreeklandscape-1"}

1 vote

#3 - Mon Mar 2, 2009 3:29 PM EST

{"commentId":5701237,"authorDomain":"bobnelsonfrance"}

Bob Nelson.

Oh, yes, certainly.

I have total confidence... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... ... ... then again, I live in France, where we do indeed have universal coverage... ...

{"commentId":5701237,"threadId":"516114","contentId":"2495999","authorDomain":"bobnelsonfrance"}

1 vote

#3.1 - Tue Mar 3, 2009 4:40 AM EST

{"commentId":5705384,"authorDomain":"ssvedin-swancreeklandscape-1"}

Grandpastephen

So Bob how soon do you think France will fix every paralyzed person, start growing new organs for everyone who needs one, I am sure that if they raise the tax on tourism a couple of per cent they will be able to afford it. By the way is France as pretty as England?

{"commentId":5705384,"threadId":"516114","contentId":"2495999","authorDomain":"ssvedin-swancreeklandscape-1"}

1 vote

#3.2 - Tue Mar 3, 2009 11:03 AM EST

{"commentId":5711055,"authorDomain":"bobnelsonfrance"}

Bob Nelson.

Grandpastephen,

Oh, it won't be that simple. The French will, as always, go through a great agony of philosophizing about the morality of each step forward, splitting hairs over and over again... and ultimately... yes, it will happen... and the health system (which has been "on the verge of bankruptcy"... ever since it was created by de Gaulle in the Fifties) will somehow manage to pay for it...

As for "pretty"... it's like all countries: Depends on the neighborhood. Still, France receives more tourists than any other country in the world, so I guess there are a lot of people who like it. If you like food, wine, museums... yeah. Pretty good.

{"commentId":5711055,"threadId":"516114","contentId":"2495999","authorDomain":"bobnelsonfrance"}

1 vote

#3.3 - Tue Mar 3, 2009 2:09 PM EST

{"commentId":5774966,"authorDomain":"riddlemedoooo"}

Nancy-400923

Interesting. Unfortunately, I will probably be long gone before it's available to the little people like me.

{"commentId":5774966,"threadId":"516114","contentId":"2495999","authorDomain":"riddlemedoooo"}

1 vote

#4 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 2:55 AM EST

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Stem cell breakthrough may transform future of medicine	Guardian Unlimited	Sun Mar 1	0
Virus-free pluripotency for human cells	News at Nature	Sun Mar 1	0
BBC NEWS \| Health \| 'Ethical' stem cell creation hope	BBC News	Mon Mar 2	1
Breakthrough by British scientists could see stem cells made from human ski	the Mail online	Mon Mar 2	0

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