http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/02/21/reprogrammed_stem_cells_hit_a_roadblock.html
A recent study on the effects of reprogramming stem cells to cure disease has uncovered some startling problems. Although these test have just been on lab mice, the result may halt the use on humans even farther. According to the article and studies done the process that is used to reintroduce the reprogrammed cells has a possibility to cause cancer. The cells seem to mutate and form cancer cells. What does this mean? Scientist are still trying to come up with other ways to process these cells so that it doesn't have this ill effect.
Honestly this was a hard thing to read. I'm all for stem cell research and up until now I thought the only problem we had was trying to get past conservative radicals. As it turns out there is a bigger problem. I can't believe that this could cause cancer, when that is the very thing they are trying to treat with using these cells. I really do hope that these scientist are able to make a break through and proceed on with their research and find a safe way to use this vital tool.
- Lauren (Ren) Stogner
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