Hum Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 In what could lead to new and less controversial approaches for treating conditions like diabetes and Parkinson's disease, researchers in Boston announced Thursday that they have made significant progress in creating stem cells from human skin -- without using human embryos. In 2007, when scientists first reported they had reprogrammed skin cells into stem cells, it was hailed as an alternative to getting stem cells from embryos, which are then destroyed. Since then, researchers have been working on fine-tuning the method. Embryonic stem cells, which have the ability to morph into any type of cell, continue to be controversial. Last month, a U.S. judge cut off federal funding for research with them. (A different court ruled Tuesday that funding could resume while legal arguments proceed.) The reprogramming produces what scientists call iPS cells, for induced pluripotent stem cells. The technology first used to make them involved disrupting the DNA of the skin cells. That method would introduce a risk of cancer to any patient who got transplanted tissue derived from the iPS cells. So researchers have been developing alternate methods. "The transformation of adult stem cells into more 'embryonic-like' cells is quite important," he said. "It will allow scientists to discover ways where we might be able to eradicate certain diseases. But at the same time it will provide a platform where more cellular re-engineering could take place. This means these cells can potentially create organs and improve the lives of patients.? more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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