Ethical iPS Cells Star in New Discoveries

Last November, teams of scientists in Wisconsin and Japan discovered iPS cells, ones which appear to have the same capabilities as embryonic stem cells without the ethical baggage. Now, scientists at Harvard have created 20 new human stem cells lines using iPS cells that are disease-specific.

The Harvard team took cells from patients with ten different diseases, including Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, diabetes and Down’s syndrome to create these disease-specific lines. While not yet available to inject into patients, these cell lines give researchers a wealth of material to look for clues as to the development of the diseases and possibly to develop drug treatments.

What is fascinating about this story is that the person who led the Harvard team, George Daley, is the same person who is “pining for clones, whining for eggs” as reported in this blog earlier this week. Daley claims that cloning is superior technology, even though he can’t accomplish it. Some ideas die hard, but Daley’s mythical clones should be put to rest for good.

To read the report by Dr. David Prentice on this new discovery, please click here.

Barbara Lyons