Are you happy now?

[OCybrManO]

Skin Cells Converted to Stem Cells

Scientists for the first time have turned ordinary skin cells into what appear to be embryonic stem cells -- without having to use human eggs or make new human embryos in the process, as has always been required in the past, a Harvard research team announced yesterday.

The technique uses laboratory-grown human embryonic stem cells -- such as the ones that President Bush has already approved for use by federally funded researchers -- to "reprogram" the genes in a person's skin cell, turning that skin cell into an embryonic stem cell itself.

The approach -- details of which are to be published this week in the journal Science but were made public on the journal's Web site yesterday -- is still in an early stage of development. But if further studies confirm its usefulness, it could offer an end run around the heated social and religious debate that has for years overshadowed the field of human embryonic stem cell research. . .

Finally, they won't have to worry about religious opposition... well, at least toward using embryos.

 

[Mr-Fusion]

Skin from ..the foetus HEAD!!

No seriously, that's pretty good news.

 

[kirovman]

That skin could have become a lifeform of its own..

 

[bliink]

That skin could have become a lifeform of its own..

*giant roar*
Get back!! its attacking!!

 

[Razor]

*giant roar*
Get back!! its attacking!!

*imagines the amount of lifeforms waiting to sprout intelligence lying dormant on Bliink's head*

oh shit....it's hideous

 

[Teta_Bonita]

The wackos out there are still gonna oppose it anyway.

 

[Stigmata]

"Pope Declares Stem Cells Derived From Skin Cells are Not Sacred, Requests Federal Ban"

 

[Absinthe]

I guess it's good in that it will decrease some religious opposition.

Of course, I never saw an issue with embryonic stem cell research to begin with.

 

[Mechagodzilla]

It rather much pisses me off that scientists have to go out of their way to appease the religious.

Sure it doesn't have the proven medical effectiveness of Jimmy Christmas palm-striking an epileptic in the face while yelling about the lord, but science does have its merits.

 

[dream431ca]

I'm always happy....ALWAYS..happy.