Human embryonic stem cells created from adult tissue for first time

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/may/15/human-embryonic-stem-cells-adult-tissue

Scientists have used the cloning technique that led to Dolly the sheep to turn human skin into embryonic stem cells – which can make any tissue in the body.

The US team overcame technical problems that had frustrated researchers for more than a decade to create batches of the body's master cells from donated skin.

The work will spark fresh interest in the use of cloning in medical research, and reignite the controversy over a procedure that demands a supply of human eggs, and the creation and destruction of early stage embryos. The US group employed the technique to make embryonic stem cells that were genetically matched to individuals. Such cells could be used to study diseases in exquisite detail, and regenerate damaged organs and tissues.

"Our finding offers new ways of generating stem cells for patients with dysfunctional or damaged tissues and organs," said Shoukhrat Mitalipov at Oregon Health and Science University. "Such stem cells can regenerate and replace those damaged cells and tissues and alleviate diseases that affect millions of people."

[lhooq]

1. don't trust research until it's been replicated

It seems that there are some problems with the paper. Even the senior author acknowledges them. Apparently the journal, Cell, published it within 3 or 4 days of receipt. That's got to be a record turnaround time.

I smell something fishy. Some readers may remember two supposedly ground-breaking stem cell papers appearing in Science in 2006 ... before being retracted.