11-07-2006, 05:40 PM
NER= Not Election Related
I know there have been some arguments on the legitimacy of stem cell research. Here are a couple articles I've found that have shown some interesting progress. I hope funding continues.
BRITISH scientists have grown the first artificial liver in a breakthrough that could eventually allow livers to be grown for human transplants.
Using stem cells from umbilical cords, Nico Forraz and Colin McGuckin, from Newcastle University, have grown the miniature livers in a laboratory. The livers are about the size of a 1p piece, and are a vital first step in creating a full-sized liver. They can already be used for drug testing, reducing the need to test on animals and human beings.
and a study on the creation of artificial stem cells:
UK scientists have applied for permission to create embryos by fusing human DNA with cow eggs.
The hybrid human-bovine embryos would be used for stem cell research and would not be allowed to develop for more than a few days.
They would insert human DNA into a cow's egg which has had its genetic material removed, and then create an embryo by the same technique that produced Dolly the Sheep.
The aim would be to extract stem cells from the embryo when it is six days old, before destroying it. The quality and the viability of stem cells would then be checked to see if the technique had worked.
^^^
this one is still in the planning phases, but it certainly raises alot more ethical questions into the mix
I know there have been some arguments on the legitimacy of stem cell research. Here are a couple articles I've found that have shown some interesting progress. I hope funding continues.
BRITISH scientists have grown the first artificial liver in a breakthrough that could eventually allow livers to be grown for human transplants.
Using stem cells from umbilical cords, Nico Forraz and Colin McGuckin, from Newcastle University, have grown the miniature livers in a laboratory. The livers are about the size of a 1p piece, and are a vital first step in creating a full-sized liver. They can already be used for drug testing, reducing the need to test on animals and human beings.
and a study on the creation of artificial stem cells:
UK scientists have applied for permission to create embryos by fusing human DNA with cow eggs.
The hybrid human-bovine embryos would be used for stem cell research and would not be allowed to develop for more than a few days.
They would insert human DNA into a cow's egg which has had its genetic material removed, and then create an embryo by the same technique that produced Dolly the Sheep.
The aim would be to extract stem cells from the embryo when it is six days old, before destroying it. The quality and the viability of stem cells would then be checked to see if the technique had worked.
^^^
this one is still in the planning phases, but it certainly raises alot more ethical questions into the mix