Human stem cells allow paralysed mice to walk again LINK Ian Sample, science correspondent Tuesday September 20, 2005 The Guardian Scientists have used injections of human stem cells to heal spinal injuries in paralysed mice, allowing them to walk normally again. The research, which was funded by the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, suggests that stem cells could be used to repair spinal damage in people who have suffered damaging accidents or disease, although further studies, including safety tests, are needed before the treatment can go into human trials. Neuroscientist Aileen Anderson and her team at the Reeve-Irvine Research Centre at the University of California, Irvine, used stem cells taken from the neural tissue of aborted foetuses. When injected into the body, they can develop into any type of nervous tissue. Article continues The researchers simulated common spinal cord injuries in mice by bruising their backbones at a specific point. "Immediately after the injury, nerve cells inside die and others lose their ability to pass on signals," said Prof Anderson, whose work appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences today. In tests, half of the 68 mice used were injected with around 75,000 stem cells above and below the injury site. The animals' behaviour was then assessed over the next few months. "Animals that didn't get stem cells could only walk a little, and even though they improved slightly over the first two to three weeks, they were really struggling," said Prof Anderson. "The mice that got stem cells go from stepping just occasionally to stepping all the time." Tests showed that the stem cells had formed new neurons and coatings that allow the nerves to send signals properly. John Cavanagh, head of research at the medical research charity Spinal Repair, welcomed the findings. He added: "This kind of work has another benefit, especially in America where it's a more contentious issue, in that it shows people the potential of using stem cells to treat injuries."
The whole stem cell research is a load of crap. If it is really going to be next biggest thing, why wouldn't private companies jump all over it? If it's that promising, there's got to be money to be made right? Do we need to rely on our government to do the researching? I think this is just a liberal ploy to piss off us the conservatives.
Well if you arent joking, then you havent read up much on this either. Look, private research is going on. In case you didnt notice, the government doesn't fund ANY stem cell research (except for the dozen or so lines that Bush allowed funding for, all of which are contaminated with mouse cells). Also, research takes time... We're still learning how to use stem cells. Stem cells turn into other cells based on certain signals. We have to figure out what those signals are. Also, the FDA is pretty strict limits and regulations before you can even do human trials with this stuff. So even if we had figured it out, we'd have to do massive amounts of animal tests to verify it. Case in point - It took about 20 years to develop Tylenol. And using your logic, that must've been a liberal ploy because drug companies wouldve jumped all over that since its supposed to be so great. Stem Cell Research could potentially revolutionize medicine, but this stuff takes time. Have some patience.
Not a big business conservative I see. Federal government pays for the initial research. VC invest in those technologies that have promise. Once new markets have been established, the sp500 big boys do the buyouts. All is good. The bottom line is that the federal government is helping the USA maintain its technology leadership position (and indirectly our standard of living).
Don't usually venture in the D&D but he's right. Stem cells are going to help people eventually and there is no reason why more research and money should be used to help. No Reason!!
Is it government's responsibility to spend the money though? If it is so lucrative, I would imagine private investors would jump ALL OVER this. I am all for stem cell research, but I don't think it's a responsibility for the government.
Government (including those outside of the US) spend $$$ on basic research so that things like the internet can happen.
research is NOT lucrative. spinoffs products MAY BE. that is one reason why governments fund basic research.
Nobody is but generally investors and for profit companies are interested in things that have a high probability of turning a short term profit. Stem cell research is still years away from producing a marketable cure. Your argument that its a liberal ploy is ludicrous when you consider that there are a lot of things that the NIH spends money on. You might as well be arguing that cancer research is a liberal ploy since the NIH spends far far more on that than private companies and there isn't a cure yet so if finding a cure for cancer is such a good idea wouldn't private companies jump on it. Perhaps liberals are withholding a cure just to shame conservatives to engage in more government spending.
The cold war. They wanted to distribute the information in case of a nuclear attack, they would still be able to operate.
