Stem cells: A small problem

[kemist]

http://www.futurity.org/top-stories/...ls-may-mutate/

Given time, stem cells may mutate

U. MELBOURNE (AUS) / U. SHEFFIELD (UK) — A new study reveals how the genome of 138 stem cell lines of diverse ethnic backgrounds changed when the cells were grown in the laboratory.

during prolonged culture, stem cells can acquire genetic changes similar to those seen in human cancers.

“While it is reassuring that 75 percent of the stem cell lines studied remained normal after prolonged growth in the laboratory, detecting and eliminating abnormal cells is an absolute prerequisite for clinical use of stem cell products,”

Human pluripotent stem cells show promise as a source of cells for regenerative medicine. Human embryonic stem (HES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are of interest because they can be converted into any cell type in the body and because they are able to grow and divide indefinitely in the laboratory.

The data generated in this study will be useful for understanding the frequency and types of genetic changes affecting cultured hESCs, an important issue in evaluating the cells for potential therapeutic applications.

This might seem as a minor setback, but i still see it as progress in the field. They now have more info to work with and attention can now be focused on solving this problem.

[Falcon]

goes to show that the culturing must be done by the few good labs around, and that everything must be screened thoroughly before use. Sequencing is a fast thing these days so should not add undue delays to the process of progress.

[edyle]

I would suspect that viral-type biochemical structures are relevant in the regeneration process.

Perhaps stem cells produce such structures.

[Falcon]

explain viral-type biochemical structures....that is very ambiguous

[edyle]

explain viral-type biochemical structures....that is very ambiguous

Well, something which is physically similar to what we call viruses would not be identified and described as a 'virus' unless we associate it with some medical disease or condition.

There is a similar class of structures to viruses called plasmids which are even simpler than viruses.

=== edit ===
Perhaps I should also point out since anybody that I mention to seems unaware, - that viruses are not alive.

[Falcon]

So did you mean plasmid in the first place then? Or did you mean the cells would acquire a plasmid somehow in the lab? Or did you mean the point mutations in the dividing cells would somehow resemble viral sequences?

[edyle]

So did you mean plasmid in the first place then? Or did you mean the cells would acquire a plasmid somehow in the lab? Or did you mean the point mutations in the dividing cells would somehow resemble viral sequences?

Well I'm no biology expert, but I meant vaguely, items that physically can be classified as viral type structures in the sense that they physically (meaning biochemically) resemble known virus, but do not behave or have an effect of the same destructive or negative type as what we typically call viruses.

I'm not aware of any broader type of item that includes what we call viruses, but that is the idea.


Consider computer programs for example; suppose a hacker comes up with a good idea for a change and makes a computer program using the same mechanisms and structures that he uses for any other virus program, except that it's meant to form part of the operating system and actually performs a REQUIRED function! Now you wouldn't call that computer program a 'virus' but it may be structured and perform actions very much like viruses do but for a beneficial, required effect.

[Zerothree]

That example seems to be a poor one.

If a computer program is self replicating and attaches itself to files the way a virus does, it would still be referred to as a virus.

There are some examples of worms that performed useful functions, but are still classified as worms.

03.

[edyle]

That example seems to be a poor one.

If a computer program is self replicating and attaches itself to files the way a virus does, it would still be referred to as a virus.

There are some examples of worms that performed useful functions, but are still classified as worms.

03.

Thanks.

Now you wouldn't call that computer program a 'virus' .