A big step forward on using stem cells for body-replacement parts

WORLD NEWS: "China Reprograms Cells, Creates Mice," by Gautam Naik, Wall Street Journal, 24 July 2009.

Fascinating and powerful stuff.

Two Chinese teams, working separately, have reprogrammed mature skin cells of mice to create new mice from scratch. It's considered a big step forward in using stem cells to create clones and Gattaca-made-to-order babies, but my interest has always been in body parts.

Technology that will define this century. Save your money!

Comments

[joe Michels]

I would like to see my skin cells, converted to stem cells that can be used to make cartilage for my hip joint that my body will not reject. We are on that path today and could happen in my lifetime.

But would that happen under Obamacare? I'm sure it would cost a bundle and initially my insurance would not cover it while it is experimental. But with the motive of pure profit, the medical companies would eventually make it main stream and covered by insurance. Under Obamacare, it may be deemed too expensive to develop.

[Gilbert Garza]

But has something truly basic and powerful been learned, something that will significantly/sufficiently advance the overall definition and accomplishment of the learning (and decision-making) that will be necessary to finally arrive at applications that are humane safe and therapeutically useful? (Can this be any easier than understanding cancers and finding cures for cancers?) How good is our scientific research? Some say we have allowed/provided incentives that have lead our scientific research effort to lose some of its edge?