One of the most common myths is that stem cells are a zero sum game. What’s a zero sum game? It’s a dynamic where the overall good in a given situation or system stays the same. What this means is that in a zero sum game, if something is good for one person, it must […]
The myth of stem cells as a zero sum game Read More »
For years now we’ve had a war in the world of stem cells. The war has been primarily centered on embryonic stem cell research (ESCR). The reason I call it a “war” is that opponents of ESCR have declared a “culture war” on ESCR and ESC researchers. I don’t like the term “war”, but if
Update on stem cell culture war: from Pepsi to Personhood & Romney to rogue clinics Read More »
Give prostate cancer the finger! Gotta love those pants even if you hate the exam. Cheers to John Daly for having the guts to wear such amazing pants to draw attention to prostate cancer. Prostate exams are no fun to put it mildly, but they help in early detection of this very common disease that
Give prostate cancer the finger! Amazing pants and great resources Read More »
Cancer is often referred to as the “Big C”. It’s a powerful word with many implications. Another “Big C” word is “Cure”. I believe “Cure” is also a loaded word. I am a cancer survivor and cancer scientist. You can read more about my experience here. Recently I got some more good news on the
A major scandal has erupted further regarding FDA monitoring of its scientists’ emails as reported by the NY Times. The FDA spied on the emails of its own scientists and other scientists. Some of the emails also involved correspondence with Congress and even the White House. Regardless of one’s position on what the FDA did,
I love paradoxes. The great artist M.C. Escher was famous for his paradoxical drawings such as the one above. Paradoxes make people think in a whole new way about something they thought they understood. The stem cell field is full of paradoxes. Below I list my favorite ones. Some of these resonate with stem cell
Intriguing stem cell paradoxes: from Pepsi to Pluripotency Read More »
Lately the urban myth that there are embryonic stem cells in Pepsi has been spreading like wildfire. I’ve been doing some mythbusting part to squelch these flames (and not by pouring Pepsi on them), but it isn’t easy. Why does it even matter if some folks are going around saying there are embryonic stem cells
Why the Pepsi stem cell myth matters: the dangerous spread of fiction-based reality Read More »
What’s the real story on adult stem cells? Do they really have little to no risk? As a self-proclaimed fan of stem cells, including adult stem cells, I often find myself writing and talking about them to a large, diverse audience. I’ve become a stem cell ambassador of sorts. However, I am also a realist
The real, but oft-ignored risks of adult stem cell treatments Read More »
GO here for an even newer updated look at protecting one’s stem cells. Regenerative medicine is very exciting. But what’s even better than regenerative medicine? Preventative medicine. If one can prevent a problem from occurring in the first place, it is far better than trying to treat it after the fact. Of course in many
Five simple ways to protect your stem cells to stay healthy and biologically younger Read More »
A lot of people are very upset at Pepsi for allegedly using stem cells in their research on artificial sweeteners. Why? What’s the real scoop here and what lessons can be learned from this more generally? I’ve been blogging as this controversy has evolved including posts such as Stem Cells in my Pepsi?, Stem cell myths: from
The truth about Pepsi & Stem Cells: larger lessons to be learned Read More »