Study raises adult stem cell questions

A new study has raised doubts about the creation of "ethical" all-purpose stem cells for use in research and treatments. The development of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells awakened hope that ordinary cells could be reprogrammed to act as stem cells. But new research suggests iPS cells differentiated less efficiently and less faithfully.

Scientists used different methods to coax five human embryonic stem cell lines and 12 iPS cell lines to start down the path of development to becoming neurons. The results suggest that unknown factors may undermine their usefulness both as laboratory research tools and potential treatments. Nevertheless, researchers believe the problems identified by his team were technical hurdles that would ultimately be resolved. UKPA

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