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Scientists develop red blood cell in a laboratory |
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Knowledge Base
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Written by Team Josh
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Friday, 22 August 2008 |
This is a vital invention in recent history. A team of US scientists have succeeded in growing functional red blood cells using human embryonic stem cells in a laboratory.
Researchers had previously grown blood cells from ESCs but never achieved the “enucleation” step, which prevents cells from dividing and becoming cancerous.
Now, a team of US boffins has created red blood cells by exposing cultures of ESCs to sequence of nutrients and growth factors. This turned the cells first into haemangioblasts – precursors to blood cells – and then into mature blood cells.
“Experts said it was impossible, and we were pretty surprised ourselves when it worked,” said Robert Lanza, chief scientist at Advanced Cell Technology, a research firm which grew the blood cells in collaboration with scientists from Mayo Clinic and University of Illinois in Chicago.
The tests on the red blood cells suggested that they can deliver oxygen just as efficiently as donated red blood cells. The team was also able to produce the red blood cells in bulk, creating as many as 100 billion cells. This will virtual end the crisis of blood in blood banks.
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