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stem cell research

The image shows the three copies of chromosome 21 associated with Down syndrome.

·May 28, 2013·3 min read

Down Syndrome Neurons Grown From Stem Cells Show Signature Problems

Using induced pluripotent stem cells which were grown into brain cells, researchers were provided with a way to look at early brain development in Down syndrome.

20 brain scans are shown and described well in caption..

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 11, 2013·5 min read

Spring Cleaning in Your Brain: Stem Cell Research Shows How Important Autophagy Is

Years of mouse research lead to discovery of how autophagy keeps neural stem cells ready to replace damaged brain and nerve cells.

The image shows the neural projections formed from a mouse embryonic stem cell. The caption best describes this image.

Featured Genetics

·February 26, 2013·2 min read

Sweet News for Stem Cell’s ‘Holy Grail’

Using a sugar-coated scaffold, researchers move closer to unlocking the therapeutic use of stem cells to treat a wide range of diseases from Alzheimer's to diabetes.

The image shows pencil drawings of sea lampreys by Alexander Francis Lydon.

Featured Genetics

·February 25, 2013·3 min read

Scientists Find Genes Linked to Human Neurological Disorders in Sea Lamprey Genome

Scientists have identified several genes linked to human neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury, in the sea lamprey. The lamprey has large, identified neurons in its brain and spinal cord, making it an excellent model to study regeneration at the single cell-level.

The image shows lead researcher Paolo Macciarini performing surgery.

Featured Genetics

·February 18, 2013·2 min read

Stem Cell Based Bioartificial Tissues and Organs

Known for successfully transplanting a bioengineered stem cell-based trachea, surgeon Paolo Macchiarini plans to use his technique to recreate more complex tissue. He has recently made attempts to regenerate brain tissue in rats and mice.

The image shows Gage Crump, head research for this project.

Featured Genetics

·February 11, 2013·3 min read

Researchers Uncover Genetic Clues Which may Lead to Better Understanding of Organ Development and Birth Defects

Researchers have discovered clues to the development of the head at the cellular level, which could point scientists to a better understanding of how organs and birth defects form in humans.

The image shows the gut nervous system. The caption explains the image best.

Featured Genetics

·February 1, 2013·5 min read

How Deficiencies in Two Genes Synergize to Halt Formation of Gut Nervous System

Researchers identify a new gene associated with Hirschprung Disease and show how the migration of cells that form the gut nervous system is impeded when the combined doses of two candidate genes are low. Understanding the genetic basis of HSCR offers hope for better diagnostics and treatment for it and other developmental defects caused by failure of cell migration.

Featured Genetics Neurology

·September 13, 2012·3 min read

Neural Stem Cells Regenerate Axons in Severe Spinal Cord Injury

Researchers were able to regenerate an astonishing degree of axonal growth at the site of severe spinal cord injury in rats. Results were then replicated using two human stem cell lines, one already in human trials for ALS. “We obtained the exact results using human cells as we had in the rat cells,” said Tuszynski.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 24, 2012·2 min read

Astrocytes Control the Generation of New Neurons from Neural Stem Cells

Neuroscience researchers show how astrocytes control the generation of new neurons in the brain. “In the brain, astrocytes control how many new neurons are formed from neural stem cells and survive to integrate into the existing neuronal networks. Astrocytes do this by secreting specific molecules but also by much less understood direct cell-cell interactions with stem cells”, says Prof. Milos Pekny.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 16, 2012·3 min read

Neurons Derived from Cord Blood Cells May Represent New Therapeutic Option

The researchers demonstrated that cord blood cells, which come from the mesoderm, the middle layer of embryonic germ cells, can be switched to ectodermal cells, outer layer cells from which brain, spinal and nerve cells arise. "This study shows for the first time the direct conversion of a pure population of human cord blood cells into cells of neuronal lineage by the forced expression of a single transcription factor," says Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte.