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Scanning electron micrograph of mesenchymal stem cells, derived from an umbilical cord, grown in a gel culture

Stem cells from umbilical cord 'goo' delay type 1 diabetes progression

31 May 2023

Infusions of stem cells taken from umbilical cord jelly helped people with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes reduce their need for insulin injections in a small study

CRISPR-edited cells could help people survive chronic heart failure

20 May 2023

Injecting gene-edited heart cells into rats with damaged hearts kept more of them alive and had them exercising for longer – and tests in humans could start in 2025

Nerve cell trauma response. Fluorescent light micrograph of a section through a spinal cord affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Reactive glial stem cells are producing the protein GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein, green) and OLIG2 (oligodendrocyte lineage transcription factor 2, red) in an attempt to repair the damaged nerve cells. Cell nuclei are dyed blue. MS is an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system attacks nerve cells, impairing their ability to relay signals efficiently.

Stem cell therapy reduces symptoms of progressive MS for some people

19 May 2023

After experimental stem cell therapy, people who required assistance walking due to symptoms of progressive multiple sclerosis saw their mobility improve

A stock image of a person holding a child's hand in hospital

Gene-replacement therapy is helping children overcome fatal diseases

27 May 2022

Replacing faulty genes with healthy ones has enabled several children with rare genetic disorders to have typical life experiences, such as attending school and living with their families

Stem cells levitated using sound form spherical clumps

19 May 2022

When researchers used sound to levitate stem cells, they found that the cells formed into spheres. The method could be used for growing tissues for transplants

Tiny human brain grown in lab has eye-like structures that 'see' light

17 August 2021

Small blobs of human brain grown in a dish have been coaxed into forming rudimentary eyes that respond to light. They could help understand eye disease or grow artificial retinas

Mini-heart grown in the lab can pump fluid just like the real thing

1 July 2021

A tiny version of an embryonic heart made using human stem cells can pump fluid around channels on a laboratory slide, and will help researchers study congenital heart defects

Should animals with human genes or organs be given human rights?

18 February 2020

Gene-edited pigs and brain implants are blurring the lines of what it means to be human, so our morals and laws may need to change to include beings that are “substantially human”

Move over, DNA. Life's other code is more subtle and far more powerful

27 March 2019

Our cells use a sugary language to identify and interact with each other. Cracking it will let us marshal stem cells and create alternatives to antibiotics