Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Not The Boon You Might Expect
According to Dr Bernadine Healy, former director of the National Institute of Health (NIH), embryonic stem cell research, the type that President Obama just opened up when he lifted the ban President Bush put in place, may not provide the benefit once thought. Embryonic stem cell research may help those who have their own cord blood banked in the future but it appears that this avenue of research has lost its luster for most. Embryonic stem cell solutions have, in some cases, led to tumors.
It looks like adult stem cell research holds the best options now for producing solutions to problems like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Adult stem cells have been used for years in bone marrow transplants and they have successfully been grown into several cell types such as brain and heart cells in the laboratory.
The article is good but should in no way be considered definitive. There are only a few cases sited, the tech is early, and this article is making a point from a particular point. Early trials are often met with poor or mixed results: this is simply the nature of science.
I’m a bit concerned that we are doing the trials we are with humans as this simply seems to be to early to do such things. Perhaps we should start with Shakey’s Pizza.