Pig Stem Cell Transplants

Kendall Roberson http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/04/14/pig_stem_cell_transplants_the_key_to_future_research_into_retina_treatment_.html The study of the role of stem cells in fixing torn or messed up retina tissue, the light sensitive tissue surrounding the inner surface of the eye, in stem cells, has helped scientists of stem cell research break down a huge barrier. The study of this has been demonstrated and tested on pigs and how the stem cells can be isolated and transplanted between pigs. The retina tissue has a loss of a regenerative pathway which has led medical scientists to focus on cell transplantation. Finding treatments and cures for the lack of retina tissue has caused a huge problem for medical scientists. Douglas Dean a leader from the University of Louisville is one of the scientists trying to help solve how to transplant retina stem cells. He was the one who had the idea to test the transplant on pigs. I believe that Douglas Dean had a brilliant idea of testing the retina stem cell transplants on pigs before humans. If he would have tried it on humans and it would not have worked, then it would have been his fault for hurting the person instead of a pig. I believe the discovery of how to transplant retina stem cells will help us so much more in the future than in present day life today because we will be able to perfect it more in the future instead of it having flaws like it does today. Also, if the scientists can discover treatments for the retina stem cells, it will help medical science take one step closer to solving the stem cell research issues. I love the idea of testing retina stem cell transplants on pigs and not on humans, until the transplant is perfected.