Finnish patient gets new jaw from own stem cells

[concerned]

Here is some really great news. Apparently stem cells from this man were grown in his abdomen and later transplanted so as to create a new jaw bone in which would not be rejected because it was produced by his own cells. This could do wonders for people who need transplants of various organs. No need to get on a waiting list for a donor.

www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL012172320080201?feedType=RSS&feedName=scienceNews&sp=true

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Scientists in Finland said they had replaced a 65-year-old patient's upper jaw with a bone transplant cultivated from stem cells isolated from his own fatty tissue and grown inside his

Researchers said on Friday the breakthrough opened up new ways to treat severe tissue damage and made the prospect of custom-made living spares parts for humans a step closer to reality.

Stem cells are the body's master cells and they can be found throughout the blood and tissues. Researchers have recently found that fat contains stem cells which can be directed to form a variety of different tissues.

Using a patient's own stem cells provides a tailor-made transplant that the body should not reject.

[Swimmy]

"Tell me again, why are we not funding this?!" ~Family Guy

[frankcor]

We ARE funding this, swimmy. Millions of dollars go into stem-cell research every year, including federal tax dollars. The only restriction the feds place on their contributions is that none of it can go to fetal stem cell research utilizing NEW lines of fetal cells; existing lines are not prohibited. Note that the above breakthrough utilized the patient's own stem cells.

Family Guy needs to stop drinking the Kool Aid.

[Swimmy]

I think that was the message of that comment, that by the federal government's restriction is limited the research that could be conducted.

[concerned]

When you think about this it is interesting that federal law can't support fetal stem cell research because it involves killing the embyro yet abortion is legal and the embyro is killed in that proceedure as well.

I wonder what will happen in the next 50 years when we start having human clones being 'born'. Now that is going to be one interesting time. I wish I could be alive to see it.

[frankcor]

The statement asked why we aren't funding it. We are.

[Swimmy]

Think of it as one of those hidden meanings between the lines statement.

Or so that's how I had interpreted it and that's how I meant to use it here.

[frankcor]

Ahhh, I get it. Fair enough!

[Swimmy]

I'm sorry I didn't clarify that earlier. My bad.