Skin stem cells are a welcome breakthrough

THE news that researchers in the US and Japan have successfully reprogrammed ordinary skin cells to become stem cells which can be used potentially to cure various diseases should be welcomed with enthusiasm by one and all. These skin stem cells are capable of pluripotency, that is to say they have the capacity to develop into any of several hundred different cell types.

It was previously thought that this could only occur by harvesting cells from growing human embryos — a process which would inevitably lead to the destruction of innocent human life (and one which has had no success to date).

The new discovery means, for example, that the skin stem cells could be used to repair heart damage following a heart attack or nerve damage following spinal injuries, etc. The other enormous advantage of these stem cells over embryonic stem cells is that they are taken from the patient to whom treatment will be given and, as they have the same genetic make-up, will not be rejected by the recipient.

Now that it appears the ethical difficulties have been overcome, Ireland is presented with a wonderful opportunity to develop centres of excellence in the area of stem cell research. This breakthrough further proves that through innovation and funding of ethical research, great scientific progress can be made for the good of humanity.

Sjef Schutte

Chairperson

Galway For Life

Ozanam House

St Augustine Street

Galway