Sunday, January 07, 2007

Welcome to Block III All South Pointe Students! Hi all. If you're visiting from Mr. G's Biology or Anatomy classes, welcome! About once a week at this site, I'll post a brief extra credit assignment that goes with the unit we are currently discussing. For today, all I want you guys to do is to send me an email from this link, or send a note to jgiacobbe_southpointe@cox.net. You can also just post a comment by clicking on the comment link at the bottom of this post. Make sure you include your name and class, so I know who to give the extra credit to. Please remember to check out this page every now and then. It will also include random rants, articles, and comments on things I think are interesting. Feel free to tell me what you think about things. This is considered an off-campus site, so you can say whatever you want, however you want, just keep it relevant...jg 10:47:29 PM    comment []

Scientists find stem cell source in amniotic fluid Scientists reported Sunday they had found a plentiful source of stem cells in the fluid that cushions babies in the womb. The announcement may make it easier to sidestep the controversy over destroying embryos for research. Researchers at Wake Forest University and Harvard University reported the stem cells they drew from amniotic fluid donated by pregnant women hold much the same promise as embryonic stem cells. They reported they were able to extract the stem cells without harm to mother or fetus and turn their discovery into several different tissue cell types, including brain, liver and bone....Dr. George Daley, a Harvard University stem cell researcher, said that finding raises the possibility that someday expectant parents can freeze amnio stem cells for future tissue replacement in a sick child without fear of immune rejection. Nonetheless, Daley said the discovery shouldn't be used as a replacement for human embryonic stem cell research."While they are fascinating subjects of study in their own right, they are not a substitute for human embryonic stem cells, which allow scientists to address a host of other interesting questions in early human development," said Daley. Read the rest of the article here For more about stem cells, check out here, here, here, and here. 10:33:53 PM    comment []

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