June 1st, 2005
Human Embryonic Stem Cells Stable
Welcome news from the Scotsman: "Researchers from Cambridge University appear to have cleared a major obstacle that may have scuppered hopes of using stem cells to repair damaged nerves and organs. They have shown that human embryonic stem cells are highly stable and not liable to undergo changes that could make them unsafe." As the article points out, the same is not true of embryonic stem cells in mice, which has caused some concern in scientific circles of late. "This was a surprise, because we know from mouse stem cells that these kind of genes are altered in the course of mouse embryo development. The fact that human stem cells are so stable is good news."