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Health See other Health Articles Title: Scientists make blood from skin cells Patients could be treated with blood made from their own skin after a startling breakthough by scientists. The prospect of ‘growing your own blood’ may mean the end of the need for endless donations by strangers to keep supplies topped up. Scientists found that by injecting skin cells with DNA proteins and a cocktail of molecules they could turn them into blood cells. It means that patients needing transfusions – such as those with cancer and leukaemia – could be given perfectly matched blood, with no risk of infection. Valuable commodity: Blood donations could become a thing of the past if patients needing transfusions can manufacture their own supply Valuable commodity: Blood donations could become a thing of the past if patients needing transfusions can manufacture their own supply The Canadian research has been described as ‘fantastic’ by British experts, who said the discovery could save hundreds of lives. Researchers took skin cells from adults of various age groups and newborn babies and found that regardless of how old they were, they could be transformed into blood cells. They now want to test whether these blood cells can be safely transferred into humans: similar to a normal blood transfusion. The checks will be carried out by 2012, raising the prospect that the technique could be available in hospitals within the next few years. * Sasha, 3, is infused with stem cells from her own umbilical cord to treat cerebral palsy In the past scientists have ‘grown’ blood cells from stem cells taken from discarded IVF embryos and aborted foetuses, but this latest discovery, published in the journal Nature, is the first time scientists have turned living skin cells straight into blood cells. They say this method is far quicker because it creates adult blood, rather than immature blood which is made when using embryos or foetuses. Researcher Mick Bhatia, of McMaster University in Hamilton, said: ‘I see the first sets of patients as being patients suffering from leukaemia. 'Being able to take skin cells and convert them into healthy blood, specifically adult blood, would provide a great substitute product to hopefully out-compete those leukaemia cells.’ The NHS depends on up to 2.5million units of donated blood – each half a litre – every year for urgent transfusions and platelets for cancer sufferers. Experts say the breakthrough could solve a ‘big clinical need’. Dr Lesley Walker, of Cancer Research UK, said: ‘This is a really big step forward towards overcoming the problem of finding the perfect match for cancer patients who need blood transfusions, and it has the potential to save many lives. ‘We really look forward to seeing whether this process can be done quickly and cheaply enough to be used in the clinic.’ Professor John Hunt, a stem cell scientist from the University of Liverpool, said: ‘It’s fantastic research, but it’s not yet in the clinic and we don’t know if these red blood cells are going to carry oxygen. 'This opens a lot of doors, and if we could produce red blood cells we’d be solving a big clinical need.’ The study also raises the prospect that other types of cells could be created from skin cells. Scientists may be able to create brain cells from the skin to help treat patients with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, for example. The researchers said it would be possible for people with rare blood types to grow their own blood, and freeze it either for their personal use or to help others in the same blood group. Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/healt...hrough.html#ixzz14ySpNVK0
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#2. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
Vampires everywhere are mourning this news. I think Jews will still require regular blood donations, they need it for their sacrifices to Baal.
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