About Us Portfolio Press Careers Sitemap Advertise Contact Us Make this your Homepage

Custom Search

Register

Sign In

Sign In Using Facebook

Home » Genetics & Stem Cells News

Stem Cell Breakthrough Now Moves A Step Ahead!

by Sreeraman on March 02, 2009 at 4:08 PM Genetics & Stem Cells News

Pioneering work by Japanese stem-cell researchers two years ago has taken a major step forward, helping the quest for versatile, grow-in-a-dish transplant tissue, according to papers published on Sunday.

Stem Cell Breakthrough Now Moves A Step Ahead!

Related Links

Two teams have combined ideas to devise a safer technique for reprogramming skin cells so that they become "pluripotent" stem cells, fundamental cells that then grow into specialised organs.

Their effort builds on an award-winning breakthrough in 2007 by Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University.

He and his team introduced four genes into skin cells, reprogramming them so that they became indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells.

That achievement conjured the distant vision of an almost limitless source of transplant material that would be free of controversy, as it would entail no cells derived from embryos.

But the downside of the technique for creating these so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) is that the genes are delivered by a "Trojan horse" virus.

Reprogramming cells using a virus modifies their DNA in such a way that they cannot be given to patients without boosting the risk of cancer.

In the new studies, published by the British-based journal Nature, two squads of researchers from Britain and Canada recount a method by which the four genes are delivered into the cell without using a virus, and then are removed after the reprogramming is done.

The insertion is carried out using "piggyBac," a tried-and-tested technique in genetically-modified crops in which mobile genetic sequences called transposons are slotted into the genome.

Page 1

Page 1 | 2

Next

Americans Plagued by Sleepless Nights Over Economy

Australia�s Raging Fires Traumatize School Children

More News on: Stem Cells - Cord Blood, Stem Cells - Fundamentals, Genetics and Stem Cells, Parkinsons Disease Surgical Treatment

Comment & Contribute

Be the first to comment!
Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. Comments are normally moderated and are reviewed after they are posted.
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters
	Notify me when reply is posted I agree to the terms and conditions
Your comments are automatically posted once they are submitted. All comments are however constantly reviewed for spam and irrelevant material (such as product or personal advertisements, email addresses, telephone numbers and website address). Such insertions do not conform to our policy and 'Terms of Use' and are either deleted or edited and republished. Please keep your comments brief and relevant.This section may also have questions seeking help. If you have the information you are welcome to respond, but please ensure that the information so provided is genuine and not misleading.

Health News Index

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Latest News Most Popular Most Commented

Organ Damage in Inflammatory Genetic Disorder Arrested by Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug

Kids' Gadget Perplex 1 In 6 Parents

Immune System Regulation Directly Affected If Raised on a Farm

Shortly, Memory- Impaired Patients to Get Smartphone 'Prescription'

Sporting Activity in Excess Could Mar Long-Term Success of Hip Resurfacing

News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :

News Quick Links

	News Central			Health Watch
	Latest Health News			Health In Focus
	News Category (500+)			Breaking Health News
	Popular News			Celebrating Life
	Health News and Press Release			Medindia - Exclusive
	News Photo Gallery			India Special
	News Video Gallery			Lifestyle and Wellness
	News From Other Resources

News Categories:


»	Research Says Annual Cost of Defensive Orthopedic Medicine is $2 Billion

»	RSBY to Provide Health Insurance for 66,000 J&K Families

»	Same-sex Couples in US can Now Access Health Insurance

»	Bill on Insurance Premium for Farmers Approved by Poland Cabinet

»	Co-contribution On The Rise For Group Insurance
More Insurance News

Genetics & Stem Cells Related News
»	New Prenatal Genetic Test can Detect Fetal Abnormalities in a Better Way Than Existing Tests	»	Genetics may be Able to Guide Treatment for Tuberculosis
»	Fathers Pass on Heart Disease Risk to Sons Via Genetic Variation on the Y Chromosome	»	Stem Cell Trial for Hearing Loss
»	Traces To Common Birth Defect in Gene Expression Data, Noticed by MassGeneral, Jackson Researchers	»	Reason for the Survival of Bad Immunity Genes
»	Eradicating of Genetic Diseases Perhaps Via 'Designer' Babies of 3 Parents	»	More Accurate Diagnosis of Genetic Mutations Possible Via New Virtual Tool

Read More >>

Stem Cell Breakthrough Now Moves A Step Ahead!

Genetics & Stem Cells Related News

Consumers

Medical Professionals

Medical Students

Directories