Stem Cells created from Teeth

Japanese scientists have made a major breakthrough in Stem Cell research. Earlier thought to be impossible, they created human stem cells from discarded wisdom teeth of a 10-year-old girl.

At present human embryos are a source for therapeutic stem cells but wisdom teeth would provide a great alternative and also end controversies and ethical issues.

Human stem cells have the ability to develop and transform into other kinds of human cells, and they could be used for potential treatments for some of the most dreaded diseases in the world like cancer and diabetes and might also reverse conditions like paralysis.

The team of scientists, led by Dr. Hajime Ogushi, said projected that it would take about five years before this breakthrough would be applicable in medical procedures.

Dr. Ogushi said that the research was significant in not one but two ways.

"One is that we can avoid the ethical issues of stem cells,” he said, “because wisdom teeth are destined to be thrown away anyway. Also, we used teeth that had been extracted three years ago and had been preserved in a freezer. That means that it's easy for us to stock this source of stem cells."

Modern science never ceases to surprise us…. and this is most certainly a peach of a breakthrough.