Gene Frenkle Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 SALT LAKE CITY -- A spray solution of a patient's own stem cells is healing their severe burns. So far, early experiments under a University of Utah pilot project are showing some remarkable results. http://www.ksl.com/?...3424065&nid=148 There's no need for anyone to get their panties in a wad over this one because they're not using embryonic stem cells. This article is nearly a month old, but I just came across it. Pretty cool stuff!
whateverdude Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 Very cool stuff! I say we are about a decade away from swamp-thing like regeneration.
DC Tom Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 Very cool stuff! I say we are about a decade away from swamp-thing like regeneration. Probably more like four - big difference (like, orders of magnitude) between regenerating skin, and regenerating skin, bone, vascular, muscular, and nervous tissue all at once. Hell, the simple fact that the anecdote in the story was about treating a diabetic for a diabetic complication, and not diabetes directly (which should, in a hand-waving sense, be theoretically be possible by implanting stem cells into the pancreas to generate insulin-producing cells) is a pretty clear indicator of current limits. Generating skin is a really cool step...but it's also a very, very small baby step.
Magox Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 I just don't understand how anyone could be against this. I mean I kinda do I guess, but come on!!
ieatcrayonz Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 http://www.ksl.com/?...3424065&nid=148 There's no need for anyone to get their panties in a wad over this one because they're not using embryonic stem cells. This article is nearly a month old, but I just came across it. Pretty cool stuff! Has Ricky Gervais weighed in on this?
whateverdude Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 Probably more like four - big difference (like, orders of magnitude) between regenerating skin, and regenerating skin, bone, vascular, muscular, and nervous tissue all at once. Hell, the simple fact that the anecdote in the story was about treating a diabetic for a diabetic complication, and not diabetes directly (which should, in a hand-waving sense, be theoretically be possible by implanting stem cells into the pancreas to generate insulin-producing cells) is a pretty clear indicator of current limits. Generating skin is a really cool step...but it's also a very, very small baby step. It's theoretically possible now in the aggregate to achieve all at once regeneration. They have formed organs, soft tissue, nerve cells and bone from stem cells. Kind of like replacing each part on a car one by one.
Gene Frenkle Posted December 23, 2010 Author Posted December 23, 2010 Has Ricky Gervais weighed in on this? Ricky says that god created stem cells. Prove he didn't!
DC Tom Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 It's theoretically possible now in the aggregate to achieve all at once regeneration. They have formed organs, soft tissue, nerve cells and bone from stem cells. Kind of like replacing each part on a car one by one. Which is not "swamp-thing-like regeneration", which is what you said.
DrFishfinder Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 http://www.ksl.com/?...3424065&nid=148 There's no need for anyone to get their panties in a wad over this one because they're not using embryonic stem cells. This article is nearly a month old, but I just came across it. Pretty cool stuff! Well I'm sure someone, somewhere is outraged and/or offended and has been for nearly the last month. Franky, I'm disappointed at the lack of public outcry. Buncha Namby Pamby's. Very cool stuff! I say we are about a decade away from swamp-thing like regeneration. If only we could regenerate Adrienne Barbeau.
3rdnlng Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 Well I'm sure someone, somewhere is outraged and/or offended and has been for nearly the last month. Franky, I'm disappointed at the lack of public outcry. Buncha Namby Pamby's. If only we could regenerate Adrienne Barbeau. Like from 30 years ago? Makes me feel like I could start on the Bills offensive line.
DrFishfinder Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 Like from 30 years ago? Makes me feel like I could start on the Bills offensive line. Yes and yes!
3rdnlng Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 Yes and yes! The only woman that my wife said "I don't blame you".
DrFishfinder Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 The only woman that my wife said "I don't blame you". I'm hoping your wife said that 30 years ago, too.
whateverdude Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 Which is not "swamp-thing-like regeneration", which is what you said. No, not now but possibly in 10 years as previously stated. At second thought your 40 years may be close to reality.
DC Tom Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 No, not now but possibly in 10 years as previously stated. At second thought your 40 years may be close to reality. Like I said, order-of-magnitude difference. The "instruction set" (for lack of a better term) you have to give stem cells to turn them into skin is vastly less complex than the "instruction set" for growing a new limb.
Booster4324 Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 Like I said, order-of-magnitude difference. The "instruction set" (for lack of a better term) you have to give stem cells to turn them into skin is vastly less complex than the "instruction set" for growing a new limb. Still, when you think on it, a very impressive future for the technique. If we can get to the point where we can regenerate tissue and organs in the next forty years that will extend the lifetime of a ton of people. That should be a good thing...
DC Tom Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 Still, when you think on it, a very impressive future for the technique. If we can get to the point where we can regenerate tissue and organs in the next forty years that will extend the lifetime of a ton of people. That should be a good thing... But only people who can afford it...i.e. rich people. That should be fun.
Booster4324 Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 But only people who can afford it...i.e. rich people. That should be fun. True, well the universal healthcare bill will cover it most likely...
DC Tom Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 True, well the universal healthcare bill will cover it most likely... Good one...
DrFishfinder Posted December 23, 2010 Posted December 23, 2010 Still, when you think on it, a very impressive future for the technique. If we can get to the point where we can regenerate tissue and organs in the next forty years that will extend the lifetime of a ton of people. That should be a good thing... Oh I dunno 'bout that. I can think of several people who ought to have their life spans shortened.
Recommended Posts