September 30, 2023

IN BRIEF: back again; scientists oppose Bush; Blair

BACK AGAIN: Advanced Cell Technology, the US company which was pilloried recently for misrepresenting its discovery that stem cell lines can be created from 8-cell blastocysts, is back in the news. A team headed by Dr Robert Lanza claims in the journal Cloning and Stem Cells that embryonic stem cells have restored the sight of blind rats. Researchers grew embryonic stem cells, differentiated them into retinal cells, and transplanted them into the rats without side effects. Dr Lanza believes that 50 million people around the world suffer from a similar visual defect and could benefit from embryonic stem cell treatment.