Japan creates stem cells from wisdom teeth

Japanese scientists announced today that they have created stem cells from human wisdom teeth, opening up another approach to studying dangerous diseases without resorting to embryonic stemming. is still controversial.

Researchers at the government-sponsored state-of-the-art Advanced Science and Technology Institute say they have created stem cells similar to those in human embryos from the discarded wisdom teeth of a 10-year-old girl. .

'New success has two meanings,' said Hajime Ogushi, the head of the research team. 'The first is that we can avoid moral issues related to stem cells, since wisdom teeth have been removed no matter what.'

'In addition, we used teeth extracted three years ago and stored in the refrigerator. This means that we can easily store stem cell supplies'.

Stem cells made from wisdom teeth can develop cell walls of different parts of the body.

The new statement came after a breakthrough discovery by Japanese and American scientists last year. They also said they could create human skin stem cells, a finding both welcomed by the Vatican and US President Bush.

Research involving embryonic stem cells, which can develop into different parts or nerves, is considered to be able to help cure serious diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

However, stem cell studies still suffer from religiously vehement opposition. Missionaries argue that such studies destroy human life, even though research development is only at the beginning.

In the latest study, Japanese scientists took cells from wisdom teeth and developed them within 35 days. Later, the researchers examined and found that they were stem cells, which could develop into different types of cells in the human body, Ogushi said.

Just like the discovery of stem cells last year, Japanese researchers say it will take a long time to put the use of stem cells from wisdom teeth into practice. Ogushi estimates it will take at least five years to put the technique into use in hospitals, such as experimental treatment for congenital bone disease.

'Since the extraction of wisdom teeth is mainly done in hospitals and dental clinics, we hope there will be more donors , ' he said. 'So we can produce stem cells from many different genetic codes, eliminating the risk of a patient's body rejecting implanted tissues or organs'.

Japan, which spends the most time on scientific research after the US, announced in December last year a $ 92 million plan to develop stem cell research within five years.