Brain Cells in the Palm of Your Hand

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http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.aspx?articleID=2004-07-09-2

Skin stem cells transformed in feat that promises regenerative treatments

for nervous system diseases ...

.... used skin cells isolated from biopsy samples of human adults.

Initial analysis of the samples confirmed that there were no neural

precursors, as the samples lacked nestin, a neural precursor marker.

The cells were then cultured using a mix of soluble agents called growth

factors. These agents attach to specific receptors on the surface of stem

cells and promote their differentiation and maturation.

This resulted in large numbers of nestin-positive neural precursors.

" The generation of almost limitless numbers of neural precursors from a

readily accessible, autologous adult human source provides a platform for

further experimental studies and has potential therapeutic implications, "

say the researchers...