Posted on 02/10/2005 8:42:27 AM PST by NYer
TORONTO, February 9, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Umbilical cords continue to surprise researchers as an abundant source of stem cells. Today’s Toronto Star reports that a group of scientists at the University of Toronto have discovered what they are calling the ‘jack-pot’ of stem cells in a mass of jelly found inside the umbilical cord.
"We're very excited by this, that's for sure," said J.E. Davies, of the UofT's Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering.
The source, known as Wharton's Jelly, surrounds the three umbilical cord blood vessels connecting the fetus and mother. The Toronto researchers used umbilical cords donated from full-term pregnancies.
The team hopes that this will spur parents to save their children’s umbilical cords. Stem cells from umbilical cord blood have proven to be as versatile as stem cells derived from embryos. Davies said the stem cells could provide sources of treatment for diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, which normally require bone marrow transplants.
The University of Toronto findings are to be published this week in the journal Stem Cells. “You can anticipate using these as a source of cells to help re-grow that bone ... or connective tissue in the knee ... which has been damaged in an accident,” said Davies.
Dr. Peter Hollands, a stem cell biologist from Cambridge University and the Scientific Director of Cells for Life, one of the few cord blood banks in Canada, has said that he cannot understand why scientists are pursuing embryonic stem cells that have so far failed to produce any cures.
Dr. Hollands told LifeSiteNews.com. “If we focused more on collecting umbilical cord blood from most births and storing the samples in a public bank there would then be a suitable match for almost everyone. The ‘designer babies’ would then not be needed as the cord blood banks could easily support the demand for cells for transplantation.”
Read some of LifeSiteNews.com’s vast coverage of adult stem cell advances:
Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Expert Says Designer Babies Not Necessary for Treatments
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/may/04051011.html
Adult Bone Marrow Stem Cells Deliver Cancer Therapy Without Side Effects
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/nov/04110407.html
Non Embryonic Stem Cell Treatment Allows Paralysed Brazilian To Walk, Talk Again
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/nov/04112306.html
Pro-life ping!
Anyone have a link to the Toronto Star article?
Note to self: find an "umbilical cord stem cell long-term storage facility," and invest in it....
Neither can I.............
Because a good many scientists are fond of playing God. Utilitarians who are under the impression that because they can do something they are entitled to do it.
I cannot think of a better argument against abortion than this. God, himself has given mankind the key........
Never mind. I found the link to the original story:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1107903011703
I can. They are the servants of Moloch. They are not as ignorant as they pretend to be. They do actually enjoy destroying human life, it makes them feel important.
with a name like WHARTON'S it has to be incredibly good JELLY.
I wonder if stem cells can be used to regrow cochlear follicles? I'd really like to fix the tinnitus that has been steadily growing in my ears recently.
So I could maybe do a little cosmetic reshaping and help save the world? :) Sounds good to me!
I think this discovery and its utility may well make justification of fetal stem-cell research impossible for many.
sadly, though: not all.
Probably because they think it will justify abortion.
" Another seldom-reported news item regarding this is, stem cells can be found in LIPOSUCTION FAT! "
I suspect that the richest source is NEW fat - where cells are being added during weight gain - rather than those old, well-established love handles we have carried around for years. I understand that these types actually have a different physical appearance.
Please let me know if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.
Amen to that. I would love to regain my hearing loss due to working in loud lumber mills and shooting without hearing protection when young.
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