A huge breakthrough was made in stem cell research–skin cells can be turned into any kind of human tissue, just as embryonic stem cells do. If this finding continues to stand correct it may wipe out the ethical issues of embryonic stem cell therapy.
The technique of transforming skin cells into stem cells takes place when 4 genes are injected in a prepared culture of skin cells and coaxes the skin cells to act like stem cells. Like embryonic stem cells these reprogrammed cells become pluripotent, meaning that they can turn themselves into any tissue in the body. The researchers that have proven this still say they are a few years away from actual human testing, because there is so much that is unknown. MSNBC reports that such findings could have the following effects on Parkinson’s disease, “If the recipe for stem cell-like behavior can be perfected, individualized pluripotent cells could be created to reflect a particular disease condition — for example, allowing researchers to test potential treatments for Parkinson’s disease on living human neurons created in a culture dish.
Eventually, your cells could be converted and grown into tissue suitable for transplantation back into your body, with no fear of immune rejection. In the process, no human embryos would be destroyed, and no human eggs would be used — easing the ethical concerns that have dogged stem cell research in the past.”
We live in exciting times when the world is coming closer and closer to finding better cures and treatments for diseases and illnesses that plague this world. My Parkinson’s Information plans to continue to follow such research and continue to let our subscribers and viewers stay up to date on the progressing research stem cells.
