A Worldwide First and a Surprising Stem Cell Finding
OHSU's Roku and Hex
We have some really interesting news out of OHSU’s primate center today that I believe will get some national attention.
Researchers who are studying the use of stem cells for treating diseases like Parkinson’s have made some significant findings that help explain what stem cells can do and what they cannot.
The result of the research also happens to be a worldwide first – the first chimera monkeys (monkeys from a combination of embryonic stem cells) ever born. You can see two of them above – Roku and Hex.
OHSU researcher Shoukhrat Mitalipov explains the science.
9 A.M. UPDATE - Initial news coverage:
USA Today: Chimeric monkeys born in stem cell study
The Oregonian: A world’s first in Oregon: Monkey babies with 6 ‘parents’
12:48 P.M. UPDATE – Coverage continues to come in:
OHSU creates world’s first primate chimeric offspring – KOIN
Scientists Create First Monkeys With Mixed Genomes – MSN
Chimera monkeys created in U.S. lab by fusing up to six different embryos – NATIONAL POST (CANADA)
First ‘mixed embryo’ monkeys born – BBC
Scientists Create First Monkeys With Mixed Genomes – YAHOO NEWS
‘Chimera’ monkeys created in lab by combining several embryos into one – THE GUARDIAN (UK)
First mixed-embryo monkeys are born in US – AFP (WIRE SERVICE)
OHSU researchers create chimera clones – PORTLAND TRIBUNE
Update: Friday 9:11 am – More of the coverage so far after the break.
Read this story on my way to work this morning( on the bus,not while driving). Interesting, exciting! Welcome Roku and Hex!