Ovary transplant produces embryo in sister

DanyC submitted, created time 1 year 5 months (www.newscientist.com)

A woman has produced an embryo after receiving an ovarian transplant from her sister. Crucially, the women received the graft from a sibling who was not her identical twin, the first time an embryo has been produced from such a match.

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Scientists identify key to integrating transplanted nerve cells into injured tissue

alpha submitted, created time 1 year 8 months (www.physorg.com)

"Scientists at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, have identified a key mechanism for successfully transplanting tissue into the adult central nervous system. The study found that a molecule known as MMP-2 (which is induced by stem cells) has the ability to break down barriers on the outer surface of a damaged retina and allow healthy donor cells to integrate and wire themselves into remaining recipient tissue. "

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Scuffle for organs sparks donor debate in Singapore

catherine submitted, created time 1 year 10 months (www.sciam.com)

As members of Sim Tee Hua's family sat at his bedside to pray for his recovery, they were horrified to learn that the hospital staff were about to turn off his life-support machine and use his organs for transplants.

The scenes that followed have shocked and upset not just Sim's family but many other Singaporeans, sparking a debate over the country's organ donor policy, which assumes that all citizens are willing donors, unless they have registered with the government that they wish to opt out

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Virgin Births Lead to Transplantable Stem Cells

nomad submitted, created time 1 year 11 months (www.sciam.com)

In the future individual egg cells may serve as the source for stem cells that doctors can transplant back into people if necessary to treat nerve damage and debilitating diseases, if researchers can extend a new procedure used on mice for making transplantable stem cells.
"This is just a small step along the way, but it's an important one," says stem cell researcher Paul Lerou of Children's Hospital Boston and Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital

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