Year: 2015

TGIF science links: CRISPR, stem cells, caffeine, & more

CRISPR-pigs

I always like to do a bunch of science reading on the weekend when it’s quiet including stem cells, but also many other areas such as brain tumors and more. Here are some TGIF science links to thought-provoking reading.           CRISPR stuff Where in the world could the first CRISPR baby be …

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Tick Tock Genetic Clock: How soon until first DIY CRISPR of self?

I just did a blog post today on the striking story of someone doing DIY CRISPR gene therapy on themselves. A question came to mind. How long until someone does a DIY attempt to CRISPR themselves? In the DIY gene therapy story, the person was injected with so-called “gain-of-function” viruses to try to reap health …

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Claim of Liz Parrish DIY gene therapy linked to unlicensed stem cell clinic

Elizabeth-Parrish

In a strange, but fascinating tale recounted by Antonio Regalado in an article over at MIT Tech Review, we hear the first claim of a do-it-yourself (DIY) gene therapy. The owner of a small biotech called BioViva, Liz Parrish, reportedly traveled from her home in Seattle to get an unapproved, experimental gene therapy in another …

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Stem Cell Word Cloud: Mesenchymal Dominates in 2015

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What does a stem cell word cloud tell us about the field? Word clouds are fun and informative ways to do textual data mining. I’ve done some in the past that have providing penetrating looks at science including at the whole field of science in 2014. What has the stem cell field overall been focusing on …

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Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa: Highlights from Heather Main

Shyni-Varhese

By Heather Main (from Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa) Mesa, one of my first Spanish words since moving to California. The isolated flat-topped hill with steep sides where I have just had the pleasure of listening to some of the best basic and applied science. Mountains of various sorts formed the metaphor of CIRM …

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Nature mixed signals on 3-person IVF: deep risks, but forge ahead

3-parent-baby

Nature recently published a thorough, insightful piece on the major risks that would come with the use of so-called 3-person IVF (aka mitochondrial transfer or 3-parent baby method). In the UK 3-person IVF has, as of earlier this year, the government’s blessing to proceed despite the many serious unresolved risks that Nature‘s own piece so nicely …

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Review of Stem Cell Battles, Don Reed’s Wonderful New Book

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Long-time stem cell advocate, Don Reed, has written a great new book called Stem Cell Battles: Proposition 71 and Beyond. The subtitle is “How Ordinary People Can Fight the Crushing Burden of Chronic Disease — with a Posthumous Foreword by Christopher Reeve.” Don’s book is a wonderful window into the behind-the-scenes herculean efforts that went …

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3rd Annual Berkeley SSSCR Stem Cell Conference Oct. 17: Culturing a Stem Cell Community

SSSCR-Conference-flyer-digital

By Student Society for Stem Cell Research at Berkeley UC Berkeley’s Student Society for Stem Cell Research (SSSCR) is proud to present its 3rd Annual Stem Cell Conference: “Culturing a Stem Cell Community” on Saturday October 17th from 9AM-5PM at the Li Ka Shing Center on the Berkeley Campus. This single-day Bay Area event is …

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