Adult Stem Cell Discovery in MO

Scientists in Missouri have isolated a rare type of adult stem cell in the blood of pigs. Elmer Price at the University of Missouri-Columbia said the stem cells can differentiate into nerves, blood vessels and other kinds of tissues. He hasn't found the same stem cells in humans yet, but he thinks he eventually will.

Price said he hopes the discovery will not be used politically to argue against the need for studying embryonic stem cells:

Missourians will vote in November on a proposed constitutional amendment that would permit all stem-cell research allowed by federal law to be conducted in the state.

"Opponents to embryonic stem-cell research should not use my research as evidence that we don't need embryonic stem cells," said Price, whose report is the cover story of the current issue of the journal Stem Cells and Development. "We really need to pursue both adult and embryonic stem-cell research."

Favorite quote from this story:

"Wow, that's pretty cool," said Mervin Yoder, a stem-cell researcher at Indiana University School of Medicine and vice president of the International Society for Experimental Hematology.