Comment in the Tennessean

I'm continuing to take my fight to the opposition. I have been making my case in the Tennessean for the last several days. Good opposition causes good thinking. You can find the link at

Ms Koren Lea: Stem Cell Research

Ms Koren Lea: Stem Cell Research


Once in a while, an exceptional article comes along that explains stem cell research in clear and simple terms. The linked article is one of them. Clear metaphors are used to show how stem cells work. Explainations are giving for likely benefits, and both sides of the issue of stem cell research briefly explained. If you read this article, you will enjoy it.

Scientists use amniotic fluid as a source of stem cells

Scientists use amniotic fluid as a source of stem cells: "In addition to being easily obtained, amniotic stem cells can be grown in large quantities, because they typically double every 36 hours. They do not require guidance from other cells for their development, and they do not produce tumors, which have proven to be a problem with some other types of stem cells. "

Since these cells can reproduce in large quantities, they would be very useful as a replacement for adult stem cells in some situations. Adult stem cells are not easy to obtain in quantitiy.

I wonder what function these stem cells are filling in the amniotic fluid. No one has mentionned that.

Dr. Atala says these cells produce Many cell types. Many is not all. They do not appear to be embryonic stem cells or to have equal functions.

Wisconsin Advanced Technology Advocates, Inc.: U of MN adult stem cell research shows promise for transplant therapies

Wisconsin Advanced Technology Advocates, Inc.: U of MN adult stem cell research shows promise for transplant therapies: "University of Minnesota stem cell researchers, together with collaborators at Stanford University, have successfully used adult stem cells to replace the immune system and bone marrow of mice, offering the promise of new therapies for people in the future. With this advance and other recent discoveries, the researchers are winning over previous skeptics."

This advance provides an avenue for immune system replacement

The world of blogging is constantly changing and, of course, my knowledge of what to do and how to do it is getting better too. Google docs and spreadsheets are able to be used to generate blog content. That interests me. This is my first try at that.

9. Can Stem Cells Repair a Damaged Heart? [Stem Cell Information]

9. Can Stem Cells Repair a Damaged Heart? [Stem Cell Information]

This article from the NIH explains where stem cell research is making progress in CHD. It summarizes many of the research reports seen on the net. ESC repair of heart damage would make it possible to generate enough cells to be useful in a clinical situation. Adult stem cells can repair hearts too but obtaining enough of them for practical use isn't possible now.

Stem Cell Growth Support

LA JOLLA, Calif., Oct. 31 (AScribe Newswire) -- A team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute, the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine has discovered a new synthetic compound that can support growth and self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells, offering a simple alternative to current growth conditions that may vary batch-to-batch and confuse experimental results.