January 24, 2005
Embryonic Stems Cells are 'Useless'?
Before spending billions on embryonic stem cell research it would be a good idea to consider two significant issues. Here is the first:
Most human embryonic stem-cell lines, including those available to federally funded researchers in the United States, may be useless for therapeutic applications. The body's immune defences would probably attack the cells, say US researchers.
The second is simply that embryonic stem cell harvesting involves the destruction of a human life.
When embryonic stem cells are added to serum from human blood, antibodies stick to the cells. This suggests the cells are seen as foreign, and that transplanting them into the body would trigger the immune system to reject them.
"We've found a serious problem," says Ajit Varki, a cell biologist at the University of California, San Diego.
[more]
Note: The stem cells that researchers suggest are "useless" include only those that have been exposed to animal byproducts, which are all existing lines approved for federally funded research.
Posted January 24, 2005 7:10 AM
