No More Feeder Cells
(From Betterhumans). A number of publications note recent work from Advanced Cell Technology - a company that deserves another round of venture funding if ever there was one - that removes a major obstacle for the use of embryonic stem cell based therapies in humans. "The researchers report deriving a new embryonic stem cell line from human embryos under conditions free of animal cells and serum. They say that even after six months of unspecialized growth the cells retained their potential to become a range of tissues. The technique is considered important for the therapeutic use of stem cells because it's thought that most available stem cell lines are contaminated with animal material."
Link: http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.aspx?articleID=2005-03-09-5