After the death of life

2001/05/03 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Biologia

Fred Gage and his team at the U.S. Salk Institute have grown the stem cells of bodies in cultures. These stem cells, when separated, give neurons. They consider this technique to be ethically more acceptable. In fact, until now the stem cells were taken from the fetuses, but that generated many controversies.

Researchers still do not know the consequences of their work. For example, post mortem cells have less separation capacity than fetuses. On the other hand, they do not know exactly what type of cells can be distinguished.

However, this study has shown that the brain of adults has separable and separable cells. According to Gage, in addition to its use in transplants, it can be useful for stimulating patients' brain cells. This opens the way for possible treatment for diseases in which neurons are lost, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

The cells obtained by Gage and his team have survived for months and can be frozen for later use. However, he warns that the donor's age and the time elapsed since his death must be taken into account.