July 9, 2009
British scientists at Newcastle University claim this week that they have created human sperm from embryonic stem cells. Stem cells can develop into any type of human cell, but this is the first time they have been coaxed into forming sperm. Critics say the “artificial” sperm do not have the same exact shape, movement and function of real sperm. Despite this, progress has certainly been made towards creating sperm in the laboratory. This research could eventually help infertile men father children with sperm created from their own stem cells. Read more and watch a video of the sperm making process as voiced by the lead researcher, Professor Karim Nayernia.
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Posted by Steven / July 9, 2009 10:09 pm / Permalink / Comments (0) / Trackbacks (0)
July 1, 2009
Physicians and researchers at Cedars-Sinai and Johns Hopkins hosipitals have embarked on an exciting study involving the use of stem cells to fix heart muscle that have been damaged during heart attacks. Heart-specific stem cells are harvested directly from the patient’s own heart and grown in a petri dish. The stem cells form clusters called “cardiospheres” that can even start to beat while in the dish. These cells are then injected back into the damaged heart of the patient from which they came. The researchers are hoping that these new cells will grow into healthy muscle to replace a damaged and scarred heart. This minimally-invasive procedure was completed in the first patient on Friday, June 26, 2009.
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Posted by Steven / July 1, 2009 1:29 am / Permalink / Comments (7) / Trackbacks (0)
February 3, 2009
Researchers across the US are awaiting an imminent lift on the current embryonic stem cell research ban. The Obama administration is expected to overturn the policy set forth by former President George W. Bush later this week. Unlike adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells are derived from eggs that have been artificially fertilized in an in vitro fertilization clinic, and then donated for research purposes with informed consent of the donors. Embryonic stem cells can become any of the 220 types of cells in the body, whereas adult stem cells are more limited. Scientists at the University of California, Irvine have already developed a therapy based on embryonic stem cells which made paralyzed rats walk again. Earlier this month they were given federal approval to be the first embryonic stem cell treatment to be tested in humans.
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Posted by Steven / February 3, 2009 1:10 am / Permalink / Comments (17) / Trackbacks (0)
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.