Issue 169 Item 9 Stem Cell Breakthrough for Britain

A colony of stem cells extracted from human embryos has been grown in a British laboratory for the first time. What it could mean for patients with Type 1 diabetes.

The breakthrough could mark the beginning of a new chapter of UK research, leading to revolutionary medical treatments.

It was hailed as a major achievement by experts, but condemned by pro-life campaigners who see research on human embryos as morally wrong.

Stem cells are "master" cells with the ability to develop into different kinds of tissue.

Those taken from early stage embryos – unlike adult stem cells – have the potential to become any part of the body.
Stimulated by the right chemicals, they could theoretically be turned into brain neurons, heart muscle, bone, or insulin-producing pancreatic cells.

Many scientists believe research on embryonic stem cells could change medicine beyond all recognition, raising the prospect of cures for diseases such as Parkinson’s and diabetes.
A team of scientists led by Dr Stephen Minger at King’s College London produced three stem cell populations from a total of 58 embryos.

Two of the lines were lost at an early stage, but the third has been growing for many months and now consists of hundreds of thousands of cells.

The generation of the cell line was reported the online edition of the journal Reproductive Biology.

Dr Minger said: "We are very excited about this development. Human embryonic stem cells are found in the earliest stages of development and are capable of giving rise to all the different types of cell in the body.

"This means their possible therapeutic uses are almost endless and could help in the fight against diseases ranging from diabetes to Parkinson’s."

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