wasp Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Not really sure if this is bogus or what. But it is an interesting read http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holiday Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Interesting!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 growing coral in captivity is "very cutting-edge stuff . . . there are only a few people doing it. not to sure about a few of the things mr scientist said, the process seems a little strange too (putting stem cells into a plastic bag???) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Yes some of those thoughts ran through my mind also Brian. Reporters have been known to make up stories. Or it may just be poor reporting, don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Also, are'nt stem cells from a foetus brain or something? So just what are coral stem cells? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interfecus Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 A stem cell is simply any cell that is capable of differentiating to become one of several specialised cells. There are two main categories of stem cells. There are embryonic stem cells, which are capable of becoming any type of cell. These are called this because they are only found in the embryo. In adults, we get 'adult' stem cells. These stem cells are already partially differentiated and can only become certain types of cells. As an example, we all carry stem cells in our bone marrow which can differentiate to form any of the different immune system cells but couldn't, for example, form brain cells or toenail secretion cells. By contrast, an embryonic stem cell can eventually form any other type of cell, or an entirely new organism if given the right environment. In the case of coral polyps, this is a bit confusing. Either the polyps must carry stem cells all the time or he must be undifferentiating existing cells, which is a very difficult thing to do properly. He could also be capturing gametes, but that would probably be even harder. It would be interesting to watch this and see how it turns out. High metabolic activity isn't always a good thing, even if it lasts for long. BTW, I suggest people read up a bit on stem cell research. By that I mean _reputable_ reading sources, not poor information dreamed up by political extremists. There are plenty of good, reasoned opinions both supporting and opposing it. There's quite a debate going on about stem cell research ethics and it pays to be informed. I don't know as much as I would like about it, so I'll certainly be reading up on it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted July 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Very interesting Interfecus, good to have at least one educated person among us :lol: What is your feild? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 my undertanding is that stem cells are the emryonic cells that then differentiate into the various cells (oesteoblasts etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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