A New Heart? Cool

Check this out. Scientists in England have engineered heart valves from stem cells. Apparently, this is the first time any part of the heart has been engineered in a lab. From what it looks like, we (the human race) could benefit from stem cell heart tissue within three years. That would mean that many people with heart problems could delay heart transplants or avoid them entirely by replacing portions of the heart with stem-cell-grown tissue. Even better, scientists also hypothesize that within 10 years we could grow entire hearts from stem cell tissue. This would increase longevity of patients and eliminate the need for lots of rejection drugs when replacing/repairing organs. Interesting to consider, eh?

8 comments

Unknown on 4/03/2007 7:50 PM

What kind of stem cells were they? ie: fetal stem cells or adult stem cells?
Unknown on 4/03/2007 9:10 PM

The stem cells came from bone marrow tissue. Here is a link with slightly more information than I originally provided. Pretty cool, eh?
Unknown on 4/03/2007 9:12 PM

btw, both of these articles came courtesy of Google News
Kristen on 4/04/2007 7:53 AM

very cool article & post. Modern medicine is amazing. I'm always puzzled when people say they are "choosing" not to make use of the amazing advances "we" have made and continue to make. For me, it is a wonderful blessing to live when I do, partly because of things like you just described.
Lisa on 4/05/2007 10:40 AM

Adam, very interesting. I am glad you posted this. I am often amazed at what news does not make the "mainstream" media.

I once found an interesting article on diabetes in mice and inflammation in the pancreas, not cell death, which was completely relieved by capsaicin shots every six months. all signs of diabetes disappeared, and the mice only needed a booster shot every six months to maintain proper pancreatic function! This is so fascinating. Where was it? a puny link on drudgereport, no one alse picked it up.

Adam, I loved American Heritage! I had a great professor and a really dweeby TA. I didn't really apply myself in college though.

I liked Sociology too, but I totally bombed in Math and Biology, so it sound like if we could put our brains together, we would be formidable!

My worst class was some 300 level astronomy class that I took to meet a requirement I was avoiding. Just to let you know, the professor graded on acurve. I once got a 30 /100 on a midterm, and that was a C on the bell curve!
Log on 4/06/2007 9:32 AM

dang your new blogs prety cool. btw nice post.
sj on 4/10/2007 6:33 PM

I feel like I got on the very end of this one, but yes, very cool post, Adam. These advances are amazing!
Unknown on 4/16/2007 5:31 PM

Wow, that is really interesting Lisa, especially how sometimes huge medical/scientific advances don't make mainstream media. And yes, if only we could unite our powers, we could rule the WORLD! Heck, I'd settle for ruling BYU. I would make many cool chnages.

Logan, glad you could drop by and leave me a comment. Glad you like the new blog layout. Eventhough I've had it for at least 4 months now.

Color Paper

About

My name is Adam. I have been blogging sporadically since 2005 and have always enjoyed the connectedness of it. I'm preparing to serve a full time, 2 year mission for my Church. I work at a Real Estate company as a catch-all IT guy. I love watching movies, I don't read a ton of books but when I start one I can't put it down until I finish. More to come!

A New Heart? Cool

8 comments