Adult stem cells may lead to new infertility treatment

A special class of adult stem cells, known as human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, has for the first time been reprogrammed into cells that develop into human eggs and sperm. The research, carried out by members of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)’s Broad Stem Cell Research Center, was published in the January [...]

Sperm From Female Stem Cells

 
British scientists have created early-stage, human sperm from female stem cells, according to a news reportin New Scientist magazine. It is claimed that the research will pave the way for same sex couples to have children that are genetically their own. However, other scientists are sceptical that this procedure would ever be possible.
Professor Karim Nayernia [...]

Insulin-secreting cells produced by stem cells

Scientists in the US have derived insulin-producing cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and have successfully implanted them into mice. The achievement, reported last week in the journal Nature Biotechnology, could help push forward research into therapies for diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, and some forms of type 2 diabetes, are caused by a deficiency [...]

Stem-Cell Tourism condemned

The increasing problem of ’stem-cell tourism’ – patients travelling to developing countries seeking costly and unproven stem cell treatments – have prompted leading experts to join in an international effort to establish standards for the development of stem cell treatments. The 30-member committee, comprised of scientists and ethicists from 13 nations, was to release a [...]

Disgraced Stem Cell Scientist to Offer Dog Cloning Services

US company BioArts International has teamed up with disgraced South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-Suk to offer dog cloning services to the public. Five dog owners will be given the opportunity to have their pet cloned in a worldwide auction on 18 June this year, where bidding will start at $100,000. BioArts chief executive, Lou Hawthorne, [...]