Comments on: China: A New Force in Stem Cell Field http://www.theworld.org/2010/08/china-a-new-force-in-stem-cell-field/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=china-a-new-force-in-stem-cell-field Global Perspectives for an American Audience Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Sebastian Gerety http://www.theworld.org/2010/08/china-a-new-force-in-stem-cell-field/comment-page-1/#comment-11951 Sebastian Gerety Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:13:02 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=43751#comment-11951 While the results obtained by these labs is exciting, it is not novel. It is important to note that their research consisted of a minor modification to the original papers that created stem cells from skin (fibroblast cells, see Takahashi, K. & Yamanaka, S. Induction of pluripotent stem cells from mouse embryonic and adult fibroblast cultures by defined factors. Cell 126, 663–676 (2006)). They even state in their paper "iPS cells were generated from MEF cells...as described(takahashi et al), with the exception of culturing in 20% knockout serum replacement (KOSR) (Gibco) instead of FBS". How much credit they are due in these "discoveries" is debatable. It was worthy of the prestigious Nature journal for one. This should not detract from the story that China is investing heavily in stem cell research and is likely to contribute significantly to the field. SG While the results obtained by these labs is exciting, it is not novel. It is important to note that their research consisted of a minor modification to the original papers that created stem cells from skin (fibroblast cells, see Takahashi, K. & Yamanaka, S. Induction of pluripotent stem cells from mouse embryonic and adult fibroblast cultures by defined factors. Cell 126, 663–676 (2006)). They even state in their paper “iPS cells were generated from MEF cells…as described(takahashi et al), with the exception of culturing in 20% knockout serum replacement (KOSR) (Gibco) instead of FBS”.

How much credit they are due in these “discoveries” is debatable. It was worthy of the prestigious Nature journal for one. This should not detract from the story that China is investing heavily in stem cell research and is likely to contribute significantly to the field.

SG

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