Why is CRISPR Cas9 gene editing such a big deal? Imagine being able to make mutations in any gene you wanted say in stem cells in a relatively simple, quick and affordable fashion? Sounds exciting, huh? Every so often a new kind of technology comes along in the biomedical sciences that is a true game […]
CRISPR Cas9 Gene Editing Tech Will Revolutionize Biology Read More »
A host of problems have emerged related to the two Nature papers on STAP cells and other publications by some of the same authors. It’s only been just shy of 6 weeks since these papers came out, but doesn’t it feel like about 5 years? Where will this all end? (update in 2020: closer to
Beginning of End for STAP Cell Story? Possible Outcomes Read More »
I’m hearing from multiple sources that momentum is building in Japan and even inside RIKEN itself for retraction of the STAP cell papers. This whole situation is a tragedy on so many levels and has become a no-win situation, but is it so bad at this point that retraction could possibly be the least terrible
Momentum for STAP paper retraction building Read More »
A small group of the STAP authors via RIKEN have now released a detailed protocol also available at Nature Protocol Exchange for making STAP stem cells entitled “Essential technical tips for STAP cell conversion culture from somatic cells”. This comes about 5 weeks after publication of their Nature STAP stem cell papers. 2020 update: With the 4th and
Reactions to RIKEN’s STAP cell protocol Read More »
What’s the latest surprise on the STAP cell front? There have been many unexpected turn along the way in the past few weeks of the rollercoaster ride the stem cell field is on related to STAP stem cells, the super powerful stem cells reportedly (in two papers in Nature) made “simply” by exposing cells to
Nature Post-Pub Examination of Its Own STAP Cell Papers Breaks New Ground Read More »
If you’ve been paying attention to the stem cell world, you’ll remember Woo Suk Hwang, who nearly derailed the future of stem cell research by very publically proclaiming that he had made human embryonic stem cells by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). No, this has nothing to do with Shoukhrat Mitalipov’s report of successful generation
Jeanne Loring on Woo Suk Hwang Approved Patent of SCNT ESCs Read More »
What does the future hold for CIRM? I asked former CIRM Board Chair and Prop 71 leader, Robert Klein, about that and more in the interview below. He also says some particularly exciting clinical trial and other developments in the stem cell field are coming soon. What got you excited for the very first time
Interview with Robert Klein on CIRM’s Future Read More »
I spend some hours each week reading and thinking about the recent scientific literature and I’m sure many of you do the same thing, but do we gravitate towards hyped “holy crap” papers? Every so often, a new paper erupts on the scene. It makes a big splash with a flashy entrance that captures people’s
The ‘Holy Crap’ Effect: Reflecting on Big Splash Papers Read More »
2014 Epigenetic mechanisms of tumorigenicity manifesting in stem cells. Tung PY, Knoepfler PS. Oncogene. Jun 16;0. doi: 10.1038/onc.2014.172. [Epub ahead of print] Histone H3.3 regulates dynamic chromatin states during spermatogenesis. Yuen BT, Bush KM, Barrilleaux BL, Cotterman R, Knoepfler PS. Development. 2014 Aug 19. pii: dev.106450. [Epub ahead of print] Miz-1 Activates Gene Expression via a Novel Consensus DNA Binding Motif..
Knoepfler Lab Publications Read More »
CIRM, the California Stem Cell Agency, is looking for a new President since current President Alan Trounson announced that he will be moving on at some point in the near future. CIRM itself is undergoing changes as it anticipates a key turning point in 2017 when it will not have state funding from Prop 71
More on CIRM’s Search for a New President Read More »