Stem cell research: Far from being

Recently, many studies in the laboratory showed that, the ability to replace damaged human organs from stem cells . this prospect ever been applied in practice?

Two groups of scientists in Japan and the United States have done wonders: transforming skin cells into stem cells (TBG) capable of being similar to human embryo TBG (considered the only TBG that can turn into immortal which tissue, organ, is superior to mature TBG types . .

From this transformed TBG there are many advantages to culturing into any body (TB) cells. This is an "upstream" stroke of previous studies, when embryonic TBG is condemned for ethical violations, only from mature adults with the ability to turn into organ tissues and cells.

TBG has changed since this has many advantages for the culture of cells (TB) anywhere on the body. This is an "upstream" stroke of previous studies, when embryonic TBG is condemned for ethical violations, only from mature adults with the ability to turn into organ tissues and cells.

Stem cell research at HCMC University of Natural Sciences(Photo: V. Giang)

To the success of the study, many readers have questions sent to VietNamNet , doubting the scientific and medical business performance of the umbilical cord TB in the development of umbilical cord TBG banks in Vietnam. Because many people believe that certain embryo-like TBG has many advantages over mature TBG.

Earlier, the "right to create creature eyes for the creature" when a group of scientists succeeded in creating the third eye for tadpoles also made many people hope that people will overcome all defects. However, Master Phan Kim Ngoc (University of Natural Sciences, VNU-HCM), a TBG expert, affirmed: 'It's still far to worry. to such things'!

Still need the umbilical cord stem cell bank

The discovery of skin cells converted into TBG functions similarly to embryonic TBG of two independent research groups published at the same time, a group of Kyoto University (Japan), a group at the University of Wisconsin (USA). .

The journal Science Cell reports that experts at the University of Kyoto (Japan) said they used four proteins to control the genes that reconstruct adult human fibroblasts - the type of cells that are easy to cultivate. Meanwhile, the team at the University of Wisconsin (USA) also achieved similar results when using chemical mixture is a bit different from the Japanese experts.

Through the transformation of this group of scientists, skin cells (mature cells) become the type of cells that function similarly to human embryonic stem cells - the TBG type has the ability to grow taller, younger and be consider the only type of cell that can develop into any human cell after differentiation . In the context of many countries voicing opposition to human embryonic TBG (due to moral violations), the study is considered ' shocking ' about its success and significance.

This study was tested after 12 days when skin stem cells cultured in the laboratory, the Japanese scientists successfully produced and brain tissue of the heart of this people. And the University of Wisconsin research group has built eight new stem cell chains.

Along with this success, is a problem many readers set: Previously, when science could not reconstruct skin cells or adult cells into stem cells similar to human embryonic cells, the banks are umbilical cord stem cells will be very valuable. But now, with the study just published above, umbilical cord TBG is still highly valuable in science, medicine, and has an economic impact on umbilical cord blood banks (or membranes). cord) in Vietnam or not?

Master Ho Manh Tuong said: " This finding is completely unobstructed or likely to cause concern for umbilical cord TBG or the development of umbilical cord TBG banks ." Cord blood stem cells have the potential to use fewer embryos, but easy to collect and study more.

On the other hand, the culturing and isolation of stem cells from human skin and only in the first primitive step and not an overnight apps right to life.

Meanwhile, Master Phan Kim Ngoc said that once scientists have successfully researched the transfer of skin cells into human embryos, then the future will certainly be studied to transfer TBG into the human embryo TB. will be worth much more.

According to Dr. Pham Thanh Ho, we should not be confident too early, excited too soon to succeed in his land. In his own country, to a few years, or longer to perform. Currently, development in his country TBG only rudimentary steps, can only be made with a narrow range, do not look too far, just making new steps to ease hard. The scope of application of umbilical cord TBG banks recently has, the future is, I should pay attention to the spirit "Although it's easy but is my product, suitable for my needs and my budget still necessary implementation ".

From eye to eye tadpoles: far!

About ' replacing the creation of eyes for the creature' when adding a third eye for tadpoles, according to Master Phan Kim Ngoc: injecting a different type of enzyme (differentiation enzymes) into the animal's body to create one more body parts that animals (namely more eyes) are performed, but only animal capable of metamorphosis. Currently, in laboratories around the world, the handling of stem cells into the eye cells have been made long ago.

However, from injecting other distinct enzymes into tadpoles, creating a third eye "to replace creation" to think about application in human life is still very far, very long and especially extremely difficult. It can be done for people, at a certain stage as an embryo (This is the only stage of higher animals with differentiated processes going strong).

Master Phan Kim Ngoc emphasized that it is easy for animals to have metamorphosis. For example from a tadpole into a frog, his son becomes a butterfly. Higher animals, mammals without metamorphic processes are difficult.

According to him: in principle, this is a good signal so we can expect that with the great progress of science, medicine will replace the parts of the living body. But the higher animals, the strict guidelines, stricter and do not perform as the lower animals. Especially, for people, if they think about intervening in their embryos, medicine will not allow them to do so. Furthermore, if the embryo detected malformations (via diagnostic ultrasound) it was a period of no intervention.

Master Phan Kim Ngoc is the co-author of the city-level scientific topic: Acquiring stem cells for treatment. The team of MA Phan Kim Ngoc succeeded in using stem cells from the oral cavity mucosa to regenerate the restored cornea for the eyes, the topic has a successful result.

Vinh Giang