To ease the wait for the release of our film on DVD and online, here's another round of recent news: A new stem cell technique to cure blindness has been developed by Dr. Virender S. Sangwan who is one of the participants in our documentary. Scientists also discovered a new type of stem cell in the ovaries which could improve women's health and fertility. And our friends at the University of Edinburgh are growing brain cells from skin samples.
From The Hindu:
Novel technique using stem cells revives damaged eye
"Treating blindness caused by burns using limbal stem cells harvested from the undamaged eye of the same patient has now become cheaper, easier and safer. Results of a pilot study of the SLET (simplified technique of limbal transplantation) technique conducted at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute on six patients, and published recently in the British Journal of Ophthalmology provides the proof."
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From National Geographic:
Women Can Make New Eggs After All, Stem-Cell Study Hints
"Women may make new eggs throughout their reproductive years—challenging a longstanding tenet that females are born with finite supplies, a new study says. The discovery may also lead to new avenues for improving women's health and fertility."
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From The Scotsman:
Brain cells grown from skin samples
"Scientists at the University of Edinburgh are growing living brain cells from skin samples which could help research into treatments for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder."
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