What’s the deal with the tension between José Silva and Jacob Hanna over pluripotency? Researchers probing how to reprogram cells into powerful stem cells (induced pluripotent stem cells or IPSCs) and what the molecular mechanisms are behind this process have become entangled in a conflict. Of course over the years scientists including stem cell scientists have […]
Silva Comments on MBD3/NuRD Debate with Jacob Hanna Read More »
In what NIH describes as “outside-the-box” thinking, an MIT team led by Edward Boyden has found a way to use a diaper ingredient to transform microscopy including brain imaging. This is cool stuff. Boyden’s group found that the super-absorbent diaper compound sodium polyacrylate, can be used in a very novel way for microscopy. For any who have
This is your brain on diapers: new mindbogglingly cool imaging trick Read More »
Garrison Keillor’s NPR show A Prairie Home Companion would sometimes report from a small fictional town call Lake Wobegon. Frankly, I found that show really boring, but I always chuckled when I heard this line: “Well, that’s the news from Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and
The Lake Wobegon Effect in Science: Where Every Paper is Above Average Read More »
2015 Review of Vogelstein “Bad Luck” Cancer & Stem Cell Paper in Science January 02, 2015 2014 What Does New Paper Mean for Future of Nuclear Transfer ES Cells? November 9, 2014 Encouraging New Paper on ACT Stem Cell-Based Trial for Macular Degeneration October 14, 2014 Top 10 Takeaways From Harvard Stem Cell Diabetes
Post-Publication Paper Reviews & Commentaries Read More »
A new paper in Science by Bert Vogelstein suggests that a good part of cancer is attributable to bad luck. There are so many big questions about cancer. They resonate with me very strongly as a cancer researcher and a cancer survivor myself (more on my cancer story here). What really causes cancer? Why does
Review of Bert Vogelstein “Bad Luck” Cancer Science pub Read More »
One of my goals is promoting evidence-based medicine and science-based medicine that is in the best interest of the community including patients. Below is a list of recommended reading for you including mostly blogs, but also other resources that should be on your regular must-read list. Some are stem cell-focused, while most are broader. California
Recommended reading for innovative, evidence-based medicine Read More »
Change is in the air for the California stem cell agency, CIRM. It has a new President, Randy Mills, and CIRM is soon going to be like a new agency too. I recently did an interview with Mills that illuminates some of the big changes that are imminent. I also asked him what his favorite
Radical Vision for CIRM Future: Interview with New Prez Mills Read More »
Cloning of animals is becoming a big, global business, and Hwang Woo-Suk is a major player here. Hwang Woo-Suk and animal cloning It turns out that this reproductive cloning of animals goes well beyond making duplicates of pets for sentimental customers at $100,000 a copy. Cloning of livestock by agribusinesses is becoming fairly common. Some
Cloning Factory in China Has Familiar Partner: Hwang Woo-Suk Read More »
After about a week of polling on views of shirtgate (also known as shirtstorm), the results are in and there are some pretty clear findings. The poll sought to measure people’s views of Dr. Matt Taylor’s wearing of a shirt covered in depictions of scantily clad woman including some with guns during a TV interview
Shirtgate / Shirtstorm poll results point to a polar community Read More »
The following is a response to my Open Letter to the UK Parliament on mitochondrial transfer/3-parent technology from Drs. Peter Braude and Robin Lovell-Badge. Dear Professor Knoepfler, We read your open letter to the UK Parliament and the Science and Technology Committee with interest and concern. We are two scientists, like you, with particular interests