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MIT researchers develop technique to encourage the survival and growth of adult stem cells

Adult stem cells, found in many tissues in the body, are precursor cells for specific cell types. For example, stem cells found in the bone marrow develop into blood cells, bone cells and other connective tissues, and neural stem cells develop into brain tissue.

28 Feb 2007

U.K. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority approves compensation for eggs donated for research

The United Kingdom's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on Wednesday approved a policy that will allow women who donate eggs for human embryonic stem cell research to receive up to $500 for each cycle to cover costs associated with travel and lost wages, the AP/Washington Post reports

25 Feb 2007

Increased demand, compensation for egg donors in U.S.

The AP/Boston Globe on Monday examined how increased demand for egg donations and compensation for donors in the U.S. has prompted more young women to donate their eggs. According CDC data, about 10,000 women donated eggs to federally monitored programs in 2004, compared with 3,800 women in 1996.

22 Feb 2007

Women in the UK to trade eggs for IVF treatment

According to the fertility regulator in the UK women there will soon be able to donate their eggs for medical research.

21 Feb 2007

Researchers replace organ in mice using 'single-parent' stem cells

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine have derived uniparental embryonic stem cells - created from a single donor's eggs or two sperm - and, for the first time, successfully used them to repopulate a damaged organ with healthy cells in adult mice.

18 Feb 2007

Women who donate eggs for stem cell research face few health risks

Women who donate their eggs for stem cell research or in vitro fertilization are not at increased risk of health complications, and most of the risks are a result of the hormones used to stimulate their bodies to release more than one egg, according to a report commissioned by the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine and released by the Institute of Medicine, Bloomberg reports.

13 Feb 2007

Scientists baffled by strange illness killing colonies of honeybees

Scientists across the United States are baffled by a strange illness which appears to kill honeybees by the thousands.

12 Feb 2007

Most fertility clinic web sites do not conform to advertising guidelines

The majority of fertility clinic Web sites do not adhere to their own association's advertising guidelines, according to a University of Illinois at Chicago study published in the January issue of Fertility and Sterility.

18 Jan 2007

Retinoblastoma gene may play a critical role in the development of the placenta

An important cancer-related gene may play a critical role in the development of the placenta, the organ that controls nutrient and oxygen exchange between a mother and her fetus during pregnancy, and perhaps in miscarriages.

10 Jan 2007

New embryonic cell discovery

Cambridge scientists have discovered the stage at which some of the cells of a fertilised mammalian egg are fated to develop into stem cells and why this occurs.

10 Jan 2007

BIO urges Congress to pass Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act

Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), has issued the following statement on H.R. 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007.

9 Jan 2007

Retinoblastoma gene may play a critical role in the development of the placenta

9 Jan 2007

Young single men are more likely to bank sperm before testicular cancer treatment

A quarter of men with testicular cancer banked their sperm before treatment, but only six per cent of those actually used the sperm to father a child, according to a study published in the January issue of the UK-based urology journal BJU International.

8 Jan 2007

IVF success compromised by heavy smoking

Fertility experts say the women who are heavy smokers are less likely to become pregnant through IVF treatment, even when donated eggs are used.

13 Nov 2006

Sens. Specter, Harkin say 'hype' surrounding Nature study harms chances of expanding Federal stem cell funding

"Hype" surrounding a study published in the Aug. 24 edition of the journal Nature describing a technique that could derive human embryonic stem cells without destroying the embryo is harming chances of approving legislation to expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, CQ HealthBeat reports (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 9/6).

7 Sep 2006

New York Times examines debate over preimplantation genetic diagnosis

The New York Times on Sunday examined the debate over preimplantation genetic diagnosis, a technique that allows physicians to identify embryos without genetic defects or chromosomal abnormalities and then implant the embryos most likely to result in a live, healthy infant.

5 Sep 2006

Washington Post examines 'Natural Family Planning' Centers

The Washington Post on Thursday examined "natural family planning" centers, which "tailor" the type of care provided with the religious beliefs of the physicians.

1 Sep 2006

Atp7a determines a hierarchy of copper metabolism essential for notochord development

A new study reveals the timing of developmental events that critically depend on copper. While copper deficiency is rare in humans, the findings suggest that suboptimal copper metabolism might contribute to birth defects, according to the researchers.

8 Aug 2006

FDA does an about turn on Plan B contraceptive pills

After years of dilly dallying over it's stand on over-the-counter sales of the "morning-after" contraceptive officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suddenly appear to be doing an about turn.

31 Jul 2006