Oregon researchers stated this week that it achieved what could be considered a minor breakthrough in stem cell transplantation. In effect, the team combined skin cells of a male rhesus monkey (macaque) with unfertilized monkey eggs.

Those unfertilized eggs did not contain DNA, so this process effectively cloned stem cells. Anything close to this process sets up debate when human embryos are involved, so perhaps the scientists are trying for proof of concept to sway stem cell critics? Who knows.

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Stem cell research continues to advance, as the discovery of these "moldable cells" has been discovered for the first time in the intervertebral discs of the human spine. For those with spine problems or chronic pack pain, this is very exciting news.

Disc slippage and wear causes millions globally to experience back pain that this there day in and day out. Repair of those discs without painful surgery would be nice, and the possibility of treating lower back pack with stem cell techniques could be somewhere in the future of medicine.

Water-binding molecules can be lost due to cells lost as these discs degenerate, and after knowing a few people with chronic back problems, they'd give anything to get rid of the pain -- and if new cells could be created from regeneration in this area from intervertebral discs, that would be good (really good) news for quite a few people.

And stem cell research marches on...

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The promise of using stem cells in various treatments for all types of ailments continues to garner national and global attention these days ... but would you believe that stem cells from fatty tissue could eve be used in the heart itself? Sounds like an oxymoron, eh?

But, doctors have accomplished just that -- liposuction stem cells were used to transplant into a patient's heart recently in an odd reversal of fortune medical situation. It's odd that stem cells fro a part of the body that is a result of excess fat (most likely) was used to repair heart tissue in semi-breakthrough fashion.

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