thanks!!...... excerpting......
A number of other companies are taking a variety of additional approaches to deriving and commercializing stem cell therapies. Some, such as Stem Cell Sciences (Victoria, Australia), are also developing nuclear transfer and cell immortalization strategies that will compete with Geron's technologies. Currently, the company isolates and purifies stem cells from embryonic tissue using a differentially expressed gene, said Peter Mountford, Ph.D., CEO and scientific director. Company-supported scientists have also discovered a gate-keeper gene, Oct-3/4, that defines differentiation, dedifferentiation or self-renewal of ESCs (here), and a small molecule inhibitor of ES cell differentiation. Stem Cells Inc. also plans to leverage its expertise in nuclear reprogramming. At this time, growing ESCs in vitro is Stem Cell Inc.'s major challenge, Mountford says. |