Project to produce blood for transfusion from stem cells

by Fe2O3Girl 5 Replies latest watchtower medical

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  Fe2O3Girl

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12752422

  Four Scottish universities are working on a "ground-breaking" project to manufacture blood for transfusions.

  The universities are working with the Scottish Blood Transfusion Service to generate red blood cells on a large scale for Scotland.

  Scientists have said that the industrial generation of blood from stem cells would end current supply problems.

  It would also ensure compatibility between donor and recipient.

  The University of Glasgow, along with Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh and Dundee universities are working on the project, which has just been given £2.5m from the Scottish Funding Council.

  Joanne Mountford, of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and the University of Glasgow, said: "This is not artificial blood. These are red blood cells - the same as those found in your body but made in a laboratory instead.

  'Large scale' production

  "This funding will allow us to really start translating basic laboratory science into industrial processes.

  "One of the main challenges of this project is the very large number of cells that will be needed - therefore we will need to develop new bio-process and engineering solutions alongside the biology."

  Dr Mountford said more than 10 researchers were involved in the project, which was started with a Wellcome Trust grant 18 months ago.

  The new funding will address the issue of large scale production and "industrialisation" of the process.

  "One of the reasons for shortages is not enough people donate. It would be great in the short term if more people donated blood while we worked on this alternative," she added.

  'Long-standing problem'

  The project, co-ordinated by the stem cell research team at the University of Glasgow, will include specialists from biochemistry, engineering and social science fields.

  The funding, which is over five years, will support three posts at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt universities and contribute towards two further posts at Dundee University and the Innogen Centre within Edinburgh University.

  Mark Batho, chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: "The funding council is delighted to provide funding for this ground-breaking project.

  "This exciting collaboration aims to provide a solution to a long-standing problem and one that touches many lives.

  "If successful then this will not only be of great benefit for people in Scotland but has the potential also to deliver significant economic gain."
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  wobble

  I do hope, as a regular giver of blood, that they are successful, and I do hope that a flash of "Noo Lite" to the a-holes who run the WT will enable all JW's to accept a life-saving transfusion.

  This will , sadly ,allow the WT to sweep under the carpet the crimes they have perpetrated in the past, causing the needless death of so many, often children, by their doctrine on blood, that never was supportable from the Bible, let alone from common sense.

  But if it means fewer innocents will die, that is great.

  For the normal people (non-JW) around the world, it will be a tremendous boon too.
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  Fe2O3Girl

  If this project is successful, it will be interesting to see how the WTBTS reacts. It is real blood, but not donated....what sort of fraction will that be defined as?
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  skeeter1

  Thank Jehovah for these scientists who went to college, studied hard, and are about to produce blood! LOL.

  Skeeter
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  Scooby-Doo

  "It is real blood, but not donated....what sort of fraction will that be defined as?"

  But, it is donated. The stem cells must come from somebody and as far as i know, scientists haven't been able to create synthetic stem cells.

  Maybe i'm not understanding the method they're using of transforming the stem cells into differentiated red blood cells (probably), but from what i gather, they're replicating donated stem cells on a massive scale and then converting them. Sort of creating a RBC production line.

  The society would probably regard that as exactly the same as normal red blood cell fractions.

  However, red blood cells have no nucleus. So they would have no DNA, maybe the society would let that slide then? Since after all, no genetic information would be passed from donor to recipient.
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  labmik

  If the WT Society is true to its past doctrine - then stem cell blood would be also unscriptural.

  I base this on the fact the WT Society has set out policy in times past for Christians to not evn use their own blood if it was stored for a later situation, and even blood components have been ruled out such as in vaccines, etc. Stem cell blood manufacture would be still genetically compatable to the body and in so doing have to be recognized by ones body as actual blood in order for rejection to not take place.

  But I'm sure Jehovah will reveal New Light on the matter and stem cell blood may be left up to one's conscience.

  Though off the topic a bit - some born again Christian Revival groups are so fanatical about the alchohol issue that at their memorial, they use red cordial instead of red wine to symbolise Christ's blood.