What about the embryonic stem cell look-alikes generated from adult cells, the so-called induced pluripotent stem cells?
These cells, which look very promising for stem cell research, were already eligible for funding under the old policy, although they were isolated from human tissues only in 2007. Researchers such as Eggan say that combined with embryonic research, advances in iPS cells should come even faster, the two cell types providing reinforcing insight into the biology of cell specialization. Q: What benefits do researchers expect from studying more cell lines? A: First, the opportunity to study disease-specific cell lines should give researchers insight into how these diseases originate in the body on a cellular level, shining light on the exact genetic defects behind diseases. Second, cells can be cultured to screen for their response to drugs designed to address these defects, speeding pharmaceutical discoveries. Third, an era of “regenerative medicine,” in which patients get immune-system-friendly transplant organs might spring from stem cells. Geron Corp. in January received Food and Drug A
