Stem Cells are the stepping stones of future science and will provide new treatments, even cures for chronic diseases and conditions. Researchers have discovered now other possible uses of this technology, blood manufacturing.
Blood is a precious commodity in hospitals, we are constantly reminded by Red Cross regarding to the dire need of blood across Australia. Current efforts in stem cell research are now directed into adapting hematopoietic differentiation methods of the embryonic cells, in hope to achieve the ultimate goal of being able to create a hematopoietic lineage. Or in other words a making regenerating blood line unique to each patient. This is to be able to create patient specific blood cells to treat hematopoietic diseases. If this goal could be achieved then people who require regular blood transfers can have their own blood for use instead of the needed stockpiles at hospitals, even engineer the patients diseased blood so they are being transfused healthy blood which could lead to possible avenues of cures.
Reaching this goal requires the genetic manipulation of Embryonic Stem Cells into the highly specified blood cells of an individual. All of which would occur in vitro so as to construct the human blood lines. Such goals whilst goals are still within the reach of science merely requiring the effort of perseverance to obtain them.
Weiss, et al. 9/10/05, Designer blood: creating hematopoietic lineages from embryonic stem cells, The American Society of Haematology, 2006
David Gruhl
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