Slowly, the science media is realizing the potential of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). Their use for reprogramming genes to correct defects will likely soon become a reality. iPS has the potential of providing all the touted benefits of embryonic stem cells with none of the medical or ethical issues.
The Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA has reported research that corrects a gene defect in human stem cells. The study focused on patients with a rare condition, Fanconi anemia, which causes skeletal problems and bone-marrow failure, and raises sufferers' risk of cancer. When coupled with iPS, it has the potential for correcting the defect in patients and a similar technique could do the same for many other genetic defects.
"For the first time, researchers have fixed the gene defect in cells from patients with an inherited disease, and then transformed the tissue into stem cells with the potential to reverse their condition. While scientists haven't yet tested the treatment in humans, the research could mark the beginning of a new age of curative treatments for many genetic disorders."
It's time for all the hullabaloo about embryonic stem cell research to quietly disappear. It's no longer an issue.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
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