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 »
The heat is rising in a push to deregulate dubious adult stem cell therapies and it is Republicans turning up the thermostat on this emerging pet issue of theirs. We’ve seen the Texas Medical Board passing weak rules for regulating adult stem cell therapies under pressure from Rick Perry and adult stem cell biotech, Celltex.
Stem cell deregulation push is deadly serious threat to the field and patients Read More »
The 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, April 12th, is rapidly approaching and I think there are some lessons there for the stem cell field. The Titanic was hyped as a marvel of modern technology, widely advertised as huge, unsinkable and fast. An unexpected combination….almost too good to be true. This portrayal of
The Titanic & Dubious Adult Stem Cell Clinics Read More »
If someone is not in a war, but someone else declares war on them or actually attacks them, I would say the reality is that war has started and there are two opposing sides. However, has that happened when it comes to stem cells? Are we in a stem cell war? There have been times
The war propaganda myth of adult versus embryonic stem cells hurts everyone Read More »
In June 2011 I did a post about genomics and its growing importance both for science and society. The stem cell field has a very rapidly accelerating genomic component as well. I went so far as to call it a revolution and I still believe that is not an exaggeration. CIRM has rightly recognized the
CIRM goes genomic: the California stem cell agency focuses on DNA Read More »
What with the Mississippi “personhood” amendment up for a vote today and also the Vatican Adult Stem Cell Conference beginning tomorrow, I thought today was a good time for a post about adult versus embryonic stem cells. Does stem cell research have to be either/or? Adult or stem? Can’t someone be for both adult and
Key points about adult versus embryonic stem cells Read More »
As the list of star athletes and other celebs that have received dubious stem cell treatments grows longer, I don’t think there is any question but that this turn of events will be the spark that drives hundreds of ordinary people to get similar treatments for themselves or for their kids who are either budding,
Sports Medicine and Stem Cells: a miraculous or disastrous combo? Read More »
Today I was part of a panel discussion on social media for the stem cell cause at the World Stem Cell Summit. My fellow World Stem Cell Summit panel speakers John Hlinko, Amy Adams, and Don Reed all did a great job. Something that one of speakers said in the session that ended right before
World Stem Cell Summit Day 2: scientists just stick to facts? Read More »
One of the greatest and most infuriating ironies of the stem cell-based regenerative medicine universe is that while the FDA strictly regulates the progress of therapy development by Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) and Geron and other legitimate companies, at the same time mysteriously the FDA essentially leaves completely unregulated the companies within the U.S. offering
Stem Cell Scientists KO’d in round one versus unproven clinics: where’s the FDA? Read More »
During the Crusades almost a thousand years ago, millions of people were slaughtered predominantly in the name of spreading one religious belief. One could call it an extreme, lethal form of exerting the power of one belief, a sort of power-grabbing proselytizing using weapons such as swords. Those barbaric Crusades seem like a long time
The anti-stem cell Crusade: how many lives will it cost? Read More »