After 5 plus years as “Knoepfler Lab Stem Cell Blog”, we are now going by a new, broader name for the blog, The Niche. The Niche name better represents the sense that this site is a home and community including contributions by other writers and also commenters. I’m still working on a logo for The […]
A new name for this stem cell blog: The Niche Read More »
CRISPR-ful Noah’s Ark? Even as much of the discussion surrounding powerful new gene editing and cloning technologies has centered on their possible use in humans, the creation of genetically modified (GM) and cloned animals has advanced at warp speed. Some of these efforts have been for research, which is justified. But many seem profit-centered and
Noah’s GMO ark: is it ethical to create GM or cloned animals for sale as pets? Read More »
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 involving a firm called BioViva and its leader Liz Parrish. Liz Parrish and BioViva The owner of a small biotech called BioViva, Liz Parrish, reportedly traveled
Claim of Liz Parrish DIY gene therapy linked to unlicensed stem cell clinic Read More »
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
Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa: Highlights from Heather Main Read More »
We hear so much about exciting potential stem cell therapies, but what about stem cell treatment cost? Some of these “therapies” are rigorously evaluated ones in the FDA clinical trial pipeline and others are available right now mainly through predatory stem cell clinics. Earlier this year I posted about the cost of the offerings of
Stem cell treatment cost 2.0: legit therapy Read More »
For years I have been working to educate the community about the predatory stem cell clinics out there. These clinics prey on vulnerable patients and their families. The clinics use hope as a marketing tool. A weapon. As the number of such clinics has mushroomed in the US and elsewhere the risk to both patients
Predatory stem cell clinics are winning: what can we do? Read More »
If you write about science on the web such as a blogger (e.g. me here on The Niche), chances are that your work has been used by someone else without your permission. What can you or should you do about that if anything? This re-use can range from what turn out to be appropriate occurrences
As science blogger, how to handle plagiarism & other text reuse issues Read More »
It’s a shame that National Geographic (NatGeo) has become part of a corporate empire that is not always consistent, to put it nicely, with data-based reality. Can NatGeo maintain its credibility and impact, when it is owned by a climate change denier (quoted for example as dissing folks as “extreme greenies”) who also has other
TGIF: NatGeo sell out, GM Humans, Wild West, Science backstabbing, & more Read More »
I recently chatted with Sean Morrison, current President of ISSCR, on his goals for the Society, where the stem cell field stands today, top challenges, and the future. 2020 update: read my new interview with Sean on cell therapies for COVID-19. What are your goals for your tenure as President of ISSCR? SM: ISSCR is the
ISSCR President Sean Morrison on challenges and future of stem cell field Read More »
Google is reportedly getting into the genetic modification business. It plans to use a sexy, new genetic technology called “gene drive”, which has both excited and unsettled scientists due to its great power to make GMOs in nature via reproductive chain reactions. This move toward genetic modification is part of a larger trend of Google
With CRISPR, is GMO also for Google? Read More »