Posted on 10/10/2006 2:38:30 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher
EMBRYONIC stem cells turn into tumours when injected into human tissue and therefore cannot be used to treat diseases, a visiting US expert said today.
Professor James Sherley, a researcher in the field of adult stem cells, is one of a series of experts in Canberra to lobby MPs ahead of a conscience vote on whether a ban on therapeutic cloning should be overturned.
Prof Sherley, from Boston's Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), today said scientists had failed to reveal problems with embryonic stem cells that would prevent them being used in humans.
The unique feature of embryonic stem cells that allowed them to turn into any cell of the body, known as pluripotency, created a problem when researchers injected them into tissue, Prof Sherley said.
“When you put them in an environment where they can grow and develop, they make lots of different kind of tissues,” Prof Sherley said.
“This tumour formation property is an inherent feature of the cells.
“And all you have to do is simply inject them into an animal tissue – this happens at very high efficiency.
“And although some might say we can solve the tumour problem down the road, that's equivalent to saying we can solve the cancer problem and we may, but that's a long time coming.”
Prof Sherley said the tumours, called teratomas, were generally considered benign, but it was possible they could metastasize or produce chemicals such as enzymes and cytokines that affect other parts of the body.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Embryonic stem cell research cures NOTHING!
Curing things was never the real issue. The real issue was an excuse to harvest baby parts.
Once again, Australia -- well, not to be crude, but -- cuts the crap!
Pinging pro-lifers!
Are you a doctor/researcher or do you just play one on FR?
Neither but facts are facts!
BTTT
Too bad Free Republic doesn't have a "sticky" function.
I've always thought the real draw was transgressing taboos -- to do that which is abhorrent for its own sake.
BOR had a report a year or two ago about traffic in baby parts -- I think from aborted babies; they didn't need to wait for embryonic stem cell research for that.
The key is that as much as we hate to admit it, not one of us is going to live forever, not in these bodies that all seem so destine to protect.
Well of course not. It's purpose is to create another massive industry - not unlike the education industry that controls our schools - that is taxpayer funded and filled with Democrat voters.
It's the same plan, over and over again. Tax the wealth away from your political opponents and disperse it among your constituents all in the name of "social justice."
Thanks.....I needed coffee shooting out of my nose. LOL!!
Embryonic stem cells have not cured or successfully treated a single patient. Contrast that with the more than 70 conditions that are treatable using non-embryonic stem cell therapies.
Note: Conditions treatable using non-embryonic stem cells are listed in this article.
Adult Stem Cells: It's Not Pie-in-the-Sky
Though embryonic stem cell research advocates euphemistically refer to the current state of research as an “early stage”, the unfortunate reality is the goal of embryonic stem cell therapies is, at this point, more accurately described as a pipe dream. No researcher is anywhere close to significant progress in developing practical embryonic stem cell therapies.
The only thing certain is that the cost of that research will be high. If embryonic stem cell research had real and imminent possibilities, private investors would be pouring capital into research hoping for real and imminent profits. Instead, venture capital firms are contributing to political efforts to get taxpayers to fund research. What the venture capitalists seem to be hoping for is that taxpayer funding of stem cell research will increase the value of their stakes in biotech companies. The venture capitalists can then cash out at a hefty profit, leaving taxpayers holding the bag of fruitless research.
Ron Reagan Wrong on Stem Cells
"Using embryonic stem cells, researchers at Stanford University who are working on a cure for Type I diabetes are producing new pancreatic islet cells that could be used in human transplants and could herald a cure for this devastating illness."
Actually, the latest research findings regarding embryonic stem cells are that they do not actually produce insulin in response to glucose changes in their environment and are NOT the pancreatic beta cells needed to treat diabetes. When placed in animals, the cells did not reverse diabetes; instead, they formed tumors.
"A Korean research team recently made history by using human embryonic stem cells to cure Parkinson's disease in rats."
That is what they claim, but the research is a long way from producing a safe and effective treatment for humans. On the one known occasion when earlier-stage (before 6 weeks) fetal tissue was used to try to treat a human Parkinson's patient, the tissue killed the patient by forming clumps of bone, skin and hair in the middle of his brain.
Moreover, animal trials with embryonic stem cells repeatedly kill many of the animals because of formation of brain tumors.
Meanwhile, the first clinical trial using a patient's own adult brain stem cells to treat Parkinson's has produced a lasting 80% reversal of symptoms, and wider human trials are being planned.
Gee, I wonder why. Is is because the scientific inquiry has been hijacked by political cause?
Surely he can't be serious!
Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.
Prof Sherley said the tumours, called teratomas, were generally considered benign, but it was possible they could metastasize or produce chemicals such as enzymes and cytokines that affect other parts of the body.
"EMBRYONIC stem cells turn into tumours when injected into human tissue and therefore cannot be used to treat diseases, a visiting US expert said today."
What a fitting outcome for people who have NO REGARD for life.
bump & a ping
Also an excuse to get on the government handout wagon.
If it were profitable private industry would be all over this just like they are on adult stem cell research.
It showed no promise of return on investment.
tumours? oh, bothour!
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