Stem Cells Give Blind Man His Sight Again

Here's an inspirational story just in time for the holidays- a 38-year-old man has regained vision in his blind eye thanks to a new stem cell therapy.
Here's how it works:

First, the team took a tiny sample of stem cells from his healthy eye's cornea. This millimeter square of cells was placed on a amniotic membrane, which was placed inside a liquid made from his blood, glucose, insulin, and hydrocortisone. The cells will grow in that solution until taking all over the membrane, which then is used to replace the damaged cornea.

The result: He completely gained eyesight after only eight weeks of the operation.

It's important to remember that this procedure is not the cure for blindness, but it's certainly a leap forward.  The implications of stem cell use are extraordinary and this story is a testament to its scientific value.  It's equally important to remember that embryonic stem cell research is not illegal.  Appropriating federal funds for research is illegal, so private investors (pharmaceutical conglormerates) must foot the bill.  NBD.


[Link: Gizmodo]