Stem cells have been used to help reverse paralysis in rats.
The study, headed up by Miodrag Stojkovic, deputy director and head of the Cellular Reprogramming Laboratory at Centro de Investigacion Principe Felipe in Spain, involved transplanting so-called progenitor stem cells from the lining of rats’ spinal cords into rodents with serious spinal cord injuries.
The rats recovered significant motor activity one week after injury, Stojkovic and his co-authors wrote in the Jan. 27 early online edition of the journal Stem Cells.
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The researchers say the new rat results “open a new window on spinal cord regenerative strategies.”
These are great results, of course. But we all know what’s going to happen now. Those who are motivated by magic will claim this somehow proves embryonic stem cells are not needed. It, obviously, does not, but some people give extra respect to certain blobs of differentiated cells. The reason why is jarbled and arbitrary. On the upside, however, is the fact that the U.S. no longer has an anti-science administration in place, so the cries of the religious aren’t going to be heard quite so well, at least on this subject.
Oh, right. In every other ceremonial service from inauguration day.
Filed under: News, Politics and Social | Tagged: Cellular Reprogramming Laboratory at Centro de Investigacion Principe Felipe, Miodrag Stojkovic, Obama, paralysis, Rats, regenerative strategies, Spinal cord, stem cells |
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