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The USA authorizes the use of human embryonic stem cells.
Medical officials open new doors for research.

On December 2, 2009 the American medical authorities authorized the use of 13 lines of human embryonic stem cells for public research, the first under the new policy of President Barack Obama, referring to a statement quoted by Lusa. “I’m happy to announce that we already have lines for human embryonic stem cells for the research community under the new policy on the use of these cells” said Francis Collins, Director of North American Health Services.
“According to the regulations, these stem cells are derived from embryos donated through an ethically certified process” added Collins, explaining that the North American Health Services are working to make more of these cells available to federal researchers.

Extracted from http://www.tvi24.iol.pt/
News 02/12/09

Embryonic Stem Cells

In November of 1998, James Thomson, a scientist from the University of Wisconsin in the U.S.A, announced that he had successfully collected cells from embryos from fertility clinics, creating the first line of embryonic stem cells.
Consequently, an intensive study on these cells was started, thus presenting great advantages from the beginning.

Nowadays people begin talking about the study of embryonic stem cells, their potential and which ways they may open in the near future. But what are these cells like actually? Where do they come from?

Embryonic stem cells come from embryos that are created in vitro fertilization. Scientists are working to obtain cells from embryos produced by therapeutic cloning. For example, a nucleus of a skin cell is inserted into an egg whose nucleus has been removed. After five days it’s moved to the middle cell mass of the embryo into a Petri dish with supporting cells. This way, the cells will proliferate and the stem cells will produce millions of undifferentiated cells that will be referred to as a line of embryonic stem cells.

This cell type is able to transform, through cell differentiation, into any cell type because we are dealing with totally undifferentiated cells.
However, the ability of these cells has advantages and disadvantages to scientists who have to prevent the maturation of the cells harvested for further shaping the ill. The cell specialization therefore becomes a challenge because the process needs very complex combinations of growth factors and genetic and chemical signals that only nowadays the researches begin to understand.

The use of embryonic stem cells is far away from being a reality in the near future. However, when all necessary studies are done and when they can be used in the treatment of diverse diseases that allow that, the embryonic stem cells will surely be a hope for life!