Scientists 'Reset' Stem Cells to Their Earliest State

MoonRiver · #1 09/12/14, 06:24 AM

A little too close to playing god for me.

Quote:

British and Japanese scientists have managed to "reset" human stem cells to their earliest state, opening up a new realm of research into the start of human development and potentially life-saving regenerative medicines.

In work described by one independent expert as "a major step forward", the scientists said they had successfully rebooted pluripotent stem cells so they were equivalent to those of a 7 to 10-day old embryo, before it implants in the womb. more

emdeengee · #2 09/12/14, 12:00 PM

Excellent news. As the recipient of two stem cell transplants I am very interested in the development of stem cell treatments.

arabian knight · #3 09/12/14, 12:56 PM

Yes this is good news. Hope they really make a breakthrough so many good things to come from this.

MoonRiver · #4 09/12/14, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabian knight

Yes this is good news. Hope they really make a breakthrough so many good things to come from this.

Like real zombies!

painterswife · #5 09/12/14, 02:00 PM

It is amazing what scientists can accomplish. I thought that only the US made big scientific discoveries or at least that is what I keep reading in this forum.

**Tiempo** · #6 09/12/14, 02:48 PM

Fantastic development.

Yvonne's hubby · #7 09/13/14, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonRiver

Like real zombies!

The article didnt mention zombies... but possible new treatments for conditions that are currently incurable.

"Experts say that by helping to regenerate tissue, stem cell science could offer new ways of treating conditions for which there are currently no cures - including heart and eye diseases, Parkinson's and stroke."

I am going to hazard a guess here that you dont suffer from any of these conditions. People who do, or who have loved ones that do may look at this as good news.

Yvonne's hubby · #8 09/13/14, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painterswife

It is amazing what scientists can accomplish. I thought that only the US made big scientific discoveries or at least that is what I keep reading in this forum.

Naw, discoveries are made in lots of places, its just that the US researchers has traditionally made a lot of them, possibly more than most other countries.

emdeengee · #9 09/13/14, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonRiver

A little too close to playing god for me.

We lost the ability to use the “too close to playing god” argument once we started saving premature babies, inventing vaccines, performing open heart surgeries while the heart is stopped for hours, curing blindness etc. etc. Not to mention the invention of all the life saving and altering pharmaceuticals. Like Viagra which makes men THINK they are gods LOL!.
Stem cell discoveries and treatments are a gift from God which comes from the original gift – human intelligence. And I would have thought this would make everyone very happy given that this new break through will mean that embryonic stem cells will never have to be used again.

emdeengee · #10 09/13/14, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yvonne's hubby

The article didnt mention zombies... but possible new treatments for conditions that are currently incurable.

"Experts say that by helping to regenerate tissue, stem cell science could offer new ways of treating conditions for which there are currently no cures - including heart and eye diseases, Parkinson's and stroke."

I am going to hazard a guess here that you dont suffer from any of these conditions. People who do, or who have loved ones that do may look at this as good news.

Excellent points. Curing diseases will be wonderful but this new discovery and ability to transmogrify stem cells will help regrow all sorts of body tissue - limbs, eyes, organs, skin - from your OWN stem cells.

Today there are thousands of people dying every year because they cannot get an organ transplant. The future will be the use of your own stem cells to grow a new heart or liver or pancreas to transplant into your own body.

Not only do we want this for our loved ones but it is actually quite amusing the way big mouths protest about scientific discoveries until something affects them and then they are right there wanting the help. I see this all the time.

Pearl B · #11 09/13/14, 03:20 PM

On one hand I don't like that scientists manipulate any genes and/or stem cells. On the other hand I don't suffer from any diseases that could be cured by such.

I tend to agree with emdeengee, and think that Dr's and scientists having been playing God for years now.

MoonRiver · #12 09/13/14, 05:46 PM

So what's to stop them from actually growing a baby with 2 hearts or 3 lungs or whatever mutation someone might want? Maybe super warriors. Or maybe man-machines.

emdeengee · #13 09/13/14, 06:25 PM

Nothing. But they can't grow a brain - yet.

And just like with GMO animals and plants, prescription drugs, nuclear weapons and viruses and other biological matter - we don't/won't have much to say about their use and control once it has been shown that they do provide huge benefits.

I guess we risk the GM human in order to give sight to the blind, life to the premature, cures for horrific diseases and new limbs or skin to accident and war victims. And given the way we are polluting our planet perhaps three lungs and two hearts will come in very handy in the future.

Pearl B · #14 09/13/14, 06:29 PM

Nothing at all. The genie is out of the bottle. I think even if the gov or others told them to stop, they wouldn't. They would just be secretive about it.

Yvonne's hubby · #15 09/13/14, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonRiver

So what's to stop them from actually growing a baby with 2 hearts or 3 lungs or whatever mutation someone might want? Maybe super warriors. Or maybe man-machines.

It doesnt work quite like that... when they "reset" the gene that cell will only grow the particular organ it was set to. Now, they might be able to grow three hearts in that vat, or a dozen even, depending upon how many cells they reset and put in the vat... but this technology only covers organs, and only one of a particular variety at a time. Of course this is all still in the theory stage, and I have heard of no one actually being able to "grow" any organs at this point.... but it is encouraging news.

MoonRiver · #16 09/13/14, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yvonne's hubby

It doesnt work quite like that... when they "reset" the gene that cell will only grow the particular organ it was set to. Now, they might be able to grow three hearts in that vat, or a dozen even, depending upon how many cells they reset and put in the vat... but this technology only covers organs, and only one of a particular variety at a time. Of course this is all still in the theory stage, and I have heard of no one actually being able to "grow" any organs at this point.... but it is encouraging news.

Maybe fingers or noses to put on robots. Or combining mass storage with a human brain.

Yvonne's hubby · #17 09/13/14, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonRiver

Maybe fingers or noses to put on robots. Or combining mass storage with a human brain.

You really should have stomped your feet and screamed and hollered louder way back when they started working with skin grafts and sewing fingers back on.... Its a bit late.... or way too early... now to worry about Frankenstein climbing out of his box.

MoonRiver · #18 09/13/14, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yvonne's hubby

You really should have stomped your feet and screamed and hollered louder way back when they started working with skin grafts and sewing fingers back on.... Its a bit late.... or way too early... now to worry about Frankenstein climbing out of his box.

I actually think this has the potential to be man's worst nightmare. I'm all for growing someone a new lung or a new liver. But we both know it won't stop there.

Vahomesteaders · #19 09/13/14, 07:30 PM

Sadly a child must die for others to live. One Life for another. Who gets to decide who's life is more important?

Yvonne's hubby · #20 09/13/14, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonRiver

I actually think this has the potential to be man's worst nightmare. I'm all for growing someone a new lung or a new liver. But we both know it won't stop there.

I dont think either of us "know" what the future may hold... or even if this new breakthrough will even yield anyone a new fingernail. Me? I hope for the best.