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Creating stem cells tailored to
Bush to veto Bill on stem cells
IIT Roorkee, Texas varsity pact this month
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US flays printing of Saddam’s photo
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Creating stem cells tailored to individual patients
After scientists in South Korea announced they had cloned human embryos and used them to create lines of stem cells that were genetic copies of sick or injured patients, concerns began to arise that the United States was losing ground in an important area of medical research.
Many physicians and patients believe the research could lead to cures for diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, but others are troubled by the need to sacrifice embryos to produce stem cells. Democrats and Republicans are throwing support behind a Bill pending in Congress that would loosen the Bush administration’s restrictions on federal funding for stem cell research, although the President said on Friday that he would veto the measure. Meanwhile, California and other states are moving forward with plans to promote research in the burgeoning field of regenerative medicine. Here is a look at some of the issues involved: Q: What was the breakthrough in South Korea? A:
Researchers at Seoul National University demonstrated that it was possible to create stem cells tailored to individual patients with spinal cord injuries or genetic ailments such as juvenile diabetes. Advocates of the research believe patient-specific stem cells could be used to grow replacements for faulty body parts and develop therapies for a range of diseases. Scientists believe such genetically matched material would be likely to succeed in a transplant because there would be little danger of tissue rejection. Q:
How did they do it? A: Researchers removed the genetic material from eggs donated by healthy women. Then they replaced it with DNA from the patients and prompted some of the eggs to grow into embryos. After five days, the embryos were transferred into culture dishes, where 11 of them developed into stem cells that were genetic matches of their DNA donors. The procedure is called therapeutic cloning because the embryos are created using cloning techniques rather than through traditional fertilization. Q:
How are these stem cells different from the ones in the United States? A:
Most of the embryonic stem cell lines available in the United States were derived from surplus frozen embryos created in fertility clinics. In addition, when scientists isolated the stem cells, they used animal cells to nourish them and encourage them to grow. They now believe the stem cell lines are contaminated and would trigger an immune response if transplanted into humans. The South Korean team was able to eliminate most, but not all, of the animal cells used in the process. Q:
Could the South Koreans’ approach be used to produce a cloned baby? A:
The general approach has been used to clone animals, including cats, cattle and horses. But scientists have so far failed in their efforts to clone primates. Woo Suk Hwang, leader of the South Korean research team, said this week that he believed ``biologically, it may be impossible’’ to clone a baby. Many prominent biologists agree. Q:
Are there different ethical issues? A: Some people find stem cells derived from excess embryos from in vitro fertilization to be less ethically troubling, as the embryos would have been discarded anyway. Others, including many bioethicists, believe that stem cells derived from the South Korean team’s technique are ethically more acceptable because the cloned embryos have no potential to become a baby. Thus, no life is lost in harvesting the stem cells. Q:
How long before stem cell therapies are widely available? A: No one knows for sure, but scientists have cautioned that there are no cures right around the corner. Hwang and others have said that it will be years, possibly decades, before therapies are widely available. Q:
Could this research be done here? A: Yes, but it couldn’t be funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation or any other federal source. California’s Proposition 71 specifically permits funding of research involving therapeutic cloning. Zach Hall, interim president of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, has said that such experiments could be among the first to be funded when the new state agency begins awarding millions of dollars in research funds. But some state lawmakers have proposed legislation that would delay any plan to allow women to donate eggs for stem cell research. — By arrangement with the LA Times-Washington Post |
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Bush to veto Bill on stem cells
Washington, May 21 In the House of Representatives, supporters of a Bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Mike Castle of Delaware and Democratic Rep. Diane DeGette of Colorado that permits expanded embryonic research hope for a vote next week and believe it will be close. Bush, who has yet to veto a Bill during his presidency, yesterday said the legislation would violate his principles. “I’ve made it very clear to the Congress that the use of federal money, taxpayers’ money, to promote science which destroys life in order to save life — I’m against that. And therefore if the Bill does that, I will veto it,” Bush told reporters during a picture-taking session with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Bush allowed federal funding for embryonic stem cell research in 2001 but limited it to 78 stem cell lines that existed as of August 9, 2001. Pressure is building in Congress, including some Republicans, to allow more research, believing it could ultimately lead to cures for diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Religious groups oppose it, saying to destroy an embryo to harvest the stem cells is akin to abortion, while proponents say more than 100 new cell lines have been created worldwide since Bush’s decision and they should be studied with federal funds. Researchers can use private money as they wish.
— Reuters |
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IIT Roorkee, Texas varsity pact this month
IIT Roorkee and the University of Texas at Dallas will sign an agreement this month that will facilitate an exchange of students, faculty and research information between the two institutions.
The UTD President, Dr Franklyn Jenifer, and the IIT Roorkee Director, Dr Prem Vrat, are expected to sign the agreement during Dr Vrat’s visit to Dallas. “Both UTD and IITR are enthusiastic about the cooperative efforts envisioned under this affiliation agreement,” said Dr Da Hsuan Feng, vice-president for research and graduate education at UTD. “There are tremendous synergies between the two institutions, starting with the very strong engineering and computer science programmes at both schools. In addition, IITR has an up-and-coming programme in management, which has long been a strength at UTD.” The agreement will facilitate the exchange of students and faculty, and promote collaborative research projects and an exchange of publications and academic information. UTD will host four third-year students from IITR as research interns this summer. Dr Feng said: “As one of seven IITs — a group I refer to as the ‘Magnificent Seven’ — the institute at Roorkee is among the most prestigious research universities in India.” “This new relationship with IITR is another step in UTD’s efforts to develop collaborations with high-quality universities throughout the world to raise our visibility and improve the quality of our academic and research endeavours,” he said. Several members of the UTD faculty are alumni of IITs, although none graduated from IIT Roorkee. Meanwhile, IIT alumni from across the US and India are congregating at a hotel on the outskirts of Washington for a three-day Global IIT 2005 conference that starts on May 20. A select group will attend a reception on Capitol Hill hosted by Virginia Republican Congressman Tom Davis and Virginia Democratic Congressman Jim Moran. Mr Davis authored a House resolution last month that “recognizes the valuable and significant contributions of Indian Americans to American society; honours the economic innovation attributable to graduates of the IIT; and urges all Americans to recognise the contributions and have a greater appreciation of the role Indian Americans have played in helping to advance and enrich American society.” The resolution followed proclamations from the Governor of Virginia, Mark Warner, and Washington Mayor Anthony Williams declaring May as “Global IIT — Indian American Heritage Month.” Organisers of the IIT alumni meeting have lined up an impressive array of speakers that includes former General Electric CEO Jack Welch, Sam Pitroda, CEO and founder of World Tel, and Harvard University President Larry Summers. |
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US flays printing of Saddam’s photo
The US military has condemned a British tabloid for publishing a photograph of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in just his underwear.
Military officials in Iraq said in a statement that the photographs “were taken in clear violation of DoD (Department of Defence) directives and possibly Geneva Convention guidelines for the humane treatment of detained individuals”. The command “is disappointed at the possibility that someone responsible for the security, welfare, and detention of Saddam would take and provide these photos for public release”, it said. The Sun’s front-page image showed the former Iraqi president in a pair of white underpants. |
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Saddam to sue tabloid
London, May 21 “We will sue the newspaper and everyone who helped in showing these pictures,” said Saddam Hussein’s chief lawyer Ziad Al-Khasawneh, speaking from Jordan, BBC reported today. The Sun newspaper said it would fight any legal action.
— PTI |
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Kylie’s breast cancer surgery successful
Melbourne, May 21 “Her spirits are high and she’s feeling fine,” said Dr Jenny Senior, who operated on Minogue yesterday afternoon. Minogue said on Tuesday she had been diagnosed with early breast cancer and postponed her Australian and Asian “Showgirl Tour” concerts. Minogue rose from humble showbiz beginnings as a teenage actress in the Australian soap opera “Neighbours” in the 1980s to international stardom as one of the world’s top pop singers. News of her breast cancer has dominated Australian and British media and has attracted sympathy and support from some of the music industry’s biggest names. Breast cancer is the biggest cause of cancer deaths among Australian women, unlike the United States and Britain where it is second, behind lung cancer.
— Reuters |
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London, May 21
