Researchers at UC, San Francisco developed a novel way of finding out the role of DNA-relatives called microRNA. These molecules are known to turn genes on and off and appear to regulate whether embryonic stem cells remain as stem cells or develop into mature cell types, but learning which genes are controlled by each microRNA … Continue reading Genetic Factors Found to Speed Embryonic Stem Cell Division

Researchers at UC, Los Angeles have created cells that go on to form normal T cells out of human embryonic stem cells. What’s more, these cells were grown in the absence of animal feeder cells, which are usually needed to sustain embryonic stem cells. Avoiding potential contamination by such feeder cells is an important step … Continue reading Early immune cells created from embryonic stem cells

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have created new stem cell lines from cells found in the human testes. Like embryonic stem cells, these cell lines are pluripotent, which means that they can form all cell types in the adult body. The work follows similar research finding that adult stem cells in mouse testes … Continue reading New Stem Cell Lines Created from Testes Biopsy

Researchers at the The Scripps Research Institute found a new way of classifying the many cell types that fall under the category of “stem cells.” The term stem cell refers to tissue specific stem cells found in mature tissues such as blood, brain, or muscle, which are restricted to forming only cells found in those … Continue reading Genetic Profile Distinguishes Types of Stem Cells

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found that human embryonic stem cells trigger an immune response much like organ rejection when transplanted into mice. In the past, researchers had thought that transplanted embryonic stem cells might not be rejected the way transplanted organs are. Testing this theory, the team found that after … Continue reading Human Embryonic Stem Cells Trigger Immune Reaction in Mice

Researchers at UC, Irvine identified the true location of adult stem cells in the brain. Previous studies indicated that in mammals, adult neural stem cells originate in a region of the brain called the subventricular zone. In this study, the team found evidence that stem cells exist only in a region called the ependymal layer, … Continue reading True Location of Brain Stem Cells Discovered

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine derived new human embryonic stem cell lines using minimal animal products. Although numerous groups have derived stem cell lines, most were generated in the presence of animal serum and animal-derived feeder cells. These animal products are a concern because they may cause the stem cells to produce an … Continue reading New Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Avoid Animal Products

Researchers at the Salk Institute of Biological Studies discovered that stem cells in the testes of fruit flies are able to generate their own support cells. This work in flies could help guide researchers hoping to understand the environment surrounding resident populations of human stem cells - called the niche. The niche is difficult to … Continue reading Fly Stem Cells Create their Home