New stem cell lines

A stem cell line is the product of a single parent group of stem cells. The stem cell lines are obtained from human or animal tissues and can replicate for long periods of time in vitro "in the lab", in an artificial environment. The first level of categorization is based on the original lineage. As such, embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, cancer stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cell, induced pluripotent stem cells, etc.,etc are the main categories. Down the road each group is divided further with cell line numbers.

Recently, 13 novel embryonic stem cell lines are approved for NIH funded research. That means these cell lines are available for TAX paid research.

This is just the beginning of the big change from the Bush administration, which had limited taxpayer-funded research to about 21 stem cell lines, those already in existence as of August 2001. More cell line approvals are expected.

Currently, we are seeing the tip of the iceberg in stem cell research. In the following years we will witness how these executive decisions will transform the basic research and eventually global health care.

Health care reform is a whole package with different branches such as stem cell, gene expression, gene sequencing, medical data storage and mining policies.

However, they have a common ground. The question is are they going to be used for affordable, high quality public services or for more private, more profit oriented services addressing the lucky minority.

Obama team faces this question.

I am hoping that 13 novel embryonic cell lines are on the light side of the force.