The good news continues. New research shows that by using stem cells, scientists can produce an unlimited supply of dopamine (DA) neurons,1,2 the same neurons that inexplicably die off in Parkinson's patients. (Dopamine is the chemical that helps direct muscle activity.) Scientists at Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center recently reported that they produced DA neurons from adult somatic cells using "Dolly-esque" cloning technology.3 This finding raises the possibility that one day, therapeutic cloning could help generate DA neurons from a patient's own tissue, eliminating the worry that the tissue will be rejected and freeing transplant patients from having to take powerful immunosuppressive drugs.
Now the down side: Numerous issues jeopardize continued stem cell research. The current political posture regarding research on embryonic stem cells, a troublesome and well-publicized clinical trial that has caused some to question whether cell therapy should even be done with people, and lots of ...
