Wednesday, December 30, 2009 - Stem Cell Research News
An international team of scientists has developed a straightforward technique to determine the ethnic origin of stem cells, a finding that could lead to cells more representative of the United States and world populations and, in turn, more accurate research and more effective therapies
Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute initiated the study because the availability of genetically diverse cell lines for cell replacement therapy and drug development could have important medical consequences.
Research has shown that discordance between the ethnic origin of organ donors and recipients can influence medical outcomes for tissue transplantation, and that the safety and effectiveness of specific drugs can vary widely depending on ethnic background.
The team's analysis of a variety of human embryonic stem cell lines currently in use in research laboratories around the world found that these cells originated largely from Caucasian and East Asian populations, with little representation from populations originating in Africa. In response to these results, the scientists used skin cells from an individual of West African Yoruba heritage to create a new stem cell line, the first to carry the genetic profile of this ethnic group.
¡°Ethnic origin is a critical piece of information that should
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