Futurology

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Researchers are making progress on producing cows from just stem cells, with no eggs or sperm involved. Some people are wondering if the same tech might one day work with humans. (www.technologyreview.com)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

Research in the last 5ish years has shown that "any" cell can be induced to change into a stem cell by changing its environment and adding specific growth factors.

Edit: I spent an hour looking for the research I was referring to. I found the papers and dissertation of the author who's talk I went to where the topic was discussed. Unfortunately, with a quick read I didn't find where the author talked about it, leading me to believe it was a discussion had at the end of their defense.

Although I couldn't find the research, [email protected] found what I was talking about (induced pluripotent stem cells)

Edit 2: As [email protected] points out the techniques are not currently at the level where induced stem cells can replace native stem cells.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I assure you that if the article you read was true, it’s a very niche case and not true in most contexts.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

https://www.sciencealert.com/in-a-first-scientists-fully-wipe-a-cells-memory-before-turning-it-into-a-stem-cell

This link is a relatively new development, but induced pluripotent stem cells have been in use since around 2006 for research purposes. They can be made from a variety of cell types.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

There's so many "buts" attached to that it's not even funny. They don't work as well as an actual stem cell, for one thing. That's why there's still plenty of demand for the embryonic kind.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Person I replied to said it was niche creation case, I was simply showing that’s not the case. Nothing else.

The article I linked to does mention those things though. That’s part of why the advance is important.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It's a thing, but there's lots of catches with the technique. That's why stem cells are still in the laboratory.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Certainly. The research is still ongoing but shows promise and is making progress toward being a viable replacement.

I'll edit my original comment to clarify that point.