Prostate From Embryonic Stem Cells
EurekAlert reports on an impressive step forward for tissue engineering and the control of embryonic stem cells: "Melbourne scientists have grown a human prostate from embryonic stem cells. ... the discovery will allow scientists to monitor the progression of the prostate from a normal to a diseased state for the first time. ... We need to study healthy prostate tissue from 15-25 year old men to track this process. Understandably, there is a lack of access to samples from men in this age group, so to have found a way we can have an ongoing supply of prostate tissue is a significant milestone. As nearly every man will experience a problem with their prostate, we're very excited about the impact our research will have." Much of embryonic stem cell research at this time is aimed at understanding the progression of disease.
Link: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-02/ra-mpc022306.php