February 18, 2005

Stem Cell Study and Schiz.

Read more... Schizophrenia Biology

In California it was announced today that a Stanford University researcher has gotten a preliminary go-ahead to create a mouse with a significant number of human brain cells -- as long as the creature behaves like a mouse, not a human. This is very good news for families of people who have schizophrenia (as well as for people with other brain diseases like Parkinsons, Alzheimers, etc.)

The San Jose Mercury News reported that

"A university ethics committee studied a provocative project that transplants human neurons into the brains of mice where, surprisingly, they settle in and feel right at home.

Weissman says he doesn't want to build a smarter mouse. Instead, he is creating a furry test tube to learn more about devastating human diseases such as brain cancer, stroke, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's disease -- impairments not easily studied in people.

The work, conducted at the university and the biotech company Stem Cells Inc. of Palo Alto, started several years ago and is gaining respect. What causes brain disease? How does it kill? And how can it be cured? These experiments might offer a way to find out."

Source: The San Jose Mercury News

More Information:
Stanford University - Stem Cell Information
Stem Cells, Inc.
NIMH Stem Cell Resources and Information


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