Stem Cells Secrete Healing Chemicals

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October 11th, 2004, 10:57 PM
LanDroid

Quote:

Many stem-cell researchers hope to treat diseases by recruiting these adaptable cells to replace others that have been damaged. A report published today in Science demonstrates a different approach, which rescued mice that otherwise would have died from a genetic heart defect before birth. Instead of replacing the defective cells, embryonic stem cells released chemical signals that caused the defective heart tissue to grow properly.

Source: Scientific American

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wow, perhaps this treatment will be easier and more effective than we thought...

<font color="#000002" size="1">[ October 11, 2004 07:58 PM: Message edited by: LanDroid ]</font>
October 12th, 2004, 02:21 AM
cincygreg

I've read a little about this, and plan to read some more. Amazing stuff may become possible from this.
October 12th, 2004, 11:58 AM
jdf

I agree. I just wish there sort of was a way to keep the cells being used...to be form umbilical cords and not from aborted fetuses. I mean , it is just my personal opinion. If it had been an opiton that i had known about when either of my children had been born, I would have done it (donating the umbilical cord) in aheartbeat.

But, I suspect that there are many people who will argue...if a fetus is going to be aborted anyway, why not try to salvage something good from the situation...what a slippery slope.