One Blog for the Kids!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Chinese researchers create pig stem cells

Posted: 03 June 2009 1700 hrs

Chinese researchers create pig stem cells

PARIS: Chinese researchers said on Wednesday they had created versatile stem cells from pigs, a groundbreaking achievement that could open up new paths for combatting human disease.

Doctors led by Lei Xiao, of the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, took adult cells taken from a pig's ear and bone marrow and reprogrammed them so that they became so-called pluripotent stem cells.

These are cells that, like the coveted stem cells found in embryos, can differentiate into any type of cell in the body.

It is a technical exploit because until now, no-one has been able to achieve reprogramming using somatic cells -- cells that do not come from sperm or eggs -- from a hooved animal.

But the main interest lies in fundamental medical research, as it offers the hope of using the pig as a test bench for disease and a source of transplant material, Xiao said.

The pig is close to the human in many biological functions and with some organs that are similar in size.

"We could use embryonic stem cells or induced stem cells to modify the immune-related genes in the pig to make the pig organ compatible to the human immune system," he said in a press release.

"Then we could use these pigs as organ donors to provide organs for patients that won't trigger an adverse reaction from the patient's own immune system."

Another possibility would be to modify genes in lines of pig stem cells so that they replicate flaws in human genes that cause diabetes and other diseases, he suggested.

The modified stem cells could then be used to generate pigs with the same disorder, thus providing researchers with a model on which to test new therapies.

The Chinese team tucked a basket of reprogramming genes inside a virus to infect the adult cells and return them to their naive, versatile state.

Tests on the cells showed they were capable of differentiating into the three fundamental layers of tissue in an early embryo.

The paper is published in the Journal of Molecular Cell Biology.

Work on similar lines is being carried out on human cells, first achieved in 2007 by Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University.

- AFP/yt

From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.

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Chinese researchers create pig stem cells

Posted: 03 June 2009 1700 hrs

Chinese researchers create pig stem cells

PARIS: Chinese researchers said on Wednesday they had created versatile stem cells from pigs, a groundbreaking achievement that could open up new paths for combatting human disease.

Doctors led by Lei Xiao, of the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, took adult cells taken from a pig's ear and bone marrow and reprogrammed them so that they became so-called pluripotent stem cells.

These are cells that, like the coveted stem cells found in embryos, can differentiate into any type of cell in the body.

It is a technical exploit because until now, no-one has been able to achieve reprogramming using somatic cells -- cells that do not come from sperm or eggs -- from a hooved animal.

But the main interest lies in fundamental medical research, as it offers the hope of using the pig as a test bench for disease and a source of transplant material, Xiao said.

The pig is close to the human in many biological functions and with some organs that are similar in size.

"We could use embryonic stem cells or induced stem cells to modify the immune-related genes in the pig to make the pig organ compatible to the human immune system," he said in a press release.

"Then we could use these pigs as organ donors to provide organs for patients that won't trigger an adverse reaction from the patient's own immune system."

Another possibility would be to modify genes in lines of pig stem cells so that they replicate flaws in human genes that cause diabetes and other diseases, he suggested.

The modified stem cells could then be used to generate pigs with the same disorder, thus providing researchers with a model on which to test new therapies.

The Chinese team tucked a basket of reprogramming genes inside a virus to infect the adult cells and return them to their naive, versatile state.

Tests on the cells showed they were capable of differentiating into the three fundamental layers of tissue in an early embryo.

The paper is published in the Journal of Molecular Cell Biology.

Work on similar lines is being carried out on human cells, first achieved in 2007 by Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University.

- AFP/yt

From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.

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Preschool musical

Meet the New Hi-5

May Seah, may@mediacorp.com.sg

Shiny, happy people: (From left) Laureen, Casey, Fely, Tim, Stevie. Don Wong

SINGING, dancing kiddie sensation Hi-5 is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the Hi-5 Surprise! Live Tour 2009, which will premiere in Asia with a tour of the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore.

Performing in the show will be the new generation Hi-5: Stevie Nicholson and newcomers Lauren Brant, Casey Burgess, Fely Irvine and Tim Maddren. Organised by MediaCorp VizPro, the Hi-5 Surprise! show depicts how the team each prepares a special surprise to help get ready for their friend Chats' surprise birthday party.

What we really wanted to know, though, was: What you have to be high on to do what they do?

"Life!" the Hi-fivers chorused in unison. Said Tim: "We feed off the energy of the kids."

Added Lauren: "It's hard not to be having fun all the time when we're singing such fabulous songs and always dressed up in such crazy costumes,"

"Once, we were all dressed up as potatoes. Couch potatoes," Casey chimed in.

Guffawing, Tim added: "You go home to your family and they're like, 'What did you do?' 'I was a couch potato.' It's weird!"

That's starchy-keen, but does it feel weird, as adults — the girls are 20 and the guys are 25 — to be doing a kiddie show?

"No," they chorused again.

"Truth is, we really are still kids, all of us," said Lauren.

Added Stevie: "We're just big brothers, big sisters having fun, being silly, and inviting the kids to come and play and have fun with us. Being role models to the children is something that we're really proud of.

"Also, we spend so much time with each other. We're all buddies, we're all mates."

So, who has a crush on whom? "They all have a crush on me!" cried Tim as the group shouted with laughter.

"It'd be weird, 'cos we're like brothers and sisters!" said a smiling Lauren.

Added Fely: "Yeah, that's probably the first time we've ever had that thought!"

Well, that might be something to ponder while they prepare for Chats' party. As Stevie put it: "I think everyone loves a party, whether you're an adult or a child."

Hi-5 Surprise! Live Tour 2009 runs from Sept 8 to 13 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets available from June 22 from Sistic. Hi-5 Series 11 premieres on next Monday and will air on weekdays at 12.30pm on MediaCorp TV okto.

From TODAY, Plus – Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009

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Preschool musical

Meet the New Hi-5

May Seah, may@mediacorp.com.sg

Shiny, happy people: (From left) Laureen, Casey, Fely, Tim, Stevie. Don Wong

SINGING, dancing kiddie sensation Hi-5 is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the Hi-5 Surprise! Live Tour 2009, which will premiere in Asia with a tour of the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore.

Performing in the show will be the new generation Hi-5: Stevie Nicholson and newcomers Lauren Brant, Casey Burgess, Fely Irvine and Tim Maddren. Organised by MediaCorp VizPro, the Hi-5 Surprise! show depicts how the team each prepares a special surprise to help get ready for their friend Chats' surprise birthday party.

What we really wanted to know, though, was: What you have to be high on to do what they do?

"Life!" the Hi-fivers chorused in unison. Said Tim: "We feed off the energy of the kids."

Added Lauren: "It's hard not to be having fun all the time when we're singing such fabulous songs and always dressed up in such crazy costumes,"

"Once, we were all dressed up as potatoes. Couch potatoes," Casey chimed in.

Guffawing, Tim added: "You go home to your family and they're like, 'What did you do?' 'I was a couch potato.' It's weird!"

That's starchy-keen, but does it feel weird, as adults — the girls are 20 and the guys are 25 — to be doing a kiddie show?

"No," they chorused again.

"Truth is, we really are still kids, all of us," said Lauren.

Added Stevie: "We're just big brothers, big sisters having fun, being silly, and inviting the kids to come and play and have fun with us. Being role models to the children is something that we're really proud of.

"Also, we spend so much time with each other. We're all buddies, we're all mates."

So, who has a crush on whom? "They all have a crush on me!" cried Tim as the group shouted with laughter.

"It'd be weird, 'cos we're like brothers and sisters!" said a smiling Lauren.

Added Fely: "Yeah, that's probably the first time we've ever had that thought!"

Well, that might be something to ponder while they prepare for Chats' party. As Stevie put it: "I think everyone loves a party, whether you're an adult or a child."

Hi-5 Surprise! Live Tour 2009 runs from Sept 8 to 13 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets available from June 22 from Sistic. Hi-5 Series 11 premieres on next Monday and will air on weekdays at 12.30pm on MediaCorp TV okto.

From TODAY, Plus – Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009

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Does Whatever A Spider Can

Not to be done by kids!

A French skyscraper climber nicknamed 'Spiderman' was arrested yesterday after scaling a 41-storey building in downtown Sydney with his bare hands. About 200 people watched as Mr Alain Robert, known for scaling some of the world's tallest and most famous buildings without ropes or other equipment, climbed to the top of the Royal Bank of Scotland Tower. Police closed off a section of the street below, causing gridlock. The crowd cheered as Mr Robert reached the top. He then climbed back down, where officers arrested him. AP

From TODAY, World – Wednesday, 03-Jun-2009

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