Scientists have got to the root of grey hair – paving the way for locks that retain the lustre of their youth well into old age. In a series of experiments, they have identified a protein called ‘wnt’ found to be vital to the production of colour in hairs. The breakthrough raises the prospects of … Continue reading
The Seven Deadly Causes Of Aging… Continue reading
Abstract A major goal in aging research is to improve health during aging. In the case of mice, genetic manipulations that shorten or lengthen telomeres result, respectively, in decreased or increased longevity. Based on this, we have tested the effects of a telomerase gene therapy in adult (1 year of age) and old (2 years … Continue reading
U.S. drug regulators have for the first time approved a therapy that uses cells of human blood from the placenta and the umbilical cord to treat people with blood-forming disorders or cancer. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday licensed Hemacord, manufactured by the New York Blood Center (NYBC), a therapy that contains self-recreating cells … Continue reading
Britain’s gene therapy industry has taken a step forward with a medicine that may help cure brain cancer moving closer to receiving regulatory approval. Ark Therapeutics, maker of Cerepro – which helps to stop cancer returning to the brain after a tumour is removed through an operation – yesterday said it had successfully manufactured a … Continue reading
Probing the salamander genome reveals clues to its remarkable ability to regrow damaged limbs and organs. In its own way, the axolotl salamander is a mighty beast. Chop off its leg, and the gilled creature will grow a new one. Freeze part of its heart, and the organ will form anew. Carve out half … Continue reading
Tengion, a company out of East Norriton, PA, has successfully grown full size replacement bladders in large mammal models, helping pave the way for the company to receive FDA clearance to initiate clinical trials on humans in 2009. The company says that the results from a preclinical trial show that its product, known as Tengion Neo-Bladder Replacement™, … Continue reading
Adult stem cells are not pampered pushovers. O’Reilly et al. report that certain stem cells take charge of their surroundings, molding their environment to control their division and differentiation. Some stem cells are cosseted like newborns. Neighboring cells cradle them in a structure called the niche. The niche not only nurtures its charges, it also … Continue reading