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The article discusses the U.S. research being done on stem cells concerning their chemical preferences and what keeps them eternal. Every type of stem cells has its own preferences, differing for human and mouse stem cells. Researchers are testing out the exact chemical preferences of stem cells, designing synthetic three-dimensional homes for them, and learning to steer the differentiation of an embryonic stem cell into specific cell types using small molecules.

Cogitates on the role of science on the justification of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research in the U.S. Efforts of scientists to examine the capability of adult stem cells behavior in reference to ESC; Impact of limited funds on the therapeutic development for ESC; Contentions over propositions in different states to allocate state funding for ESC research. INSETS: The Big Chill;California, Here We Come;Too Soon for Clinical Trials?.

Reports on the growing interest in the use of human embryonic stem cell lines in medical applications in the U.S. Government policy to uphold embryonic research limits; Calls for the expansion of federal policy on stem cell research.

The article offers world news briefs related to the spectroscopy industry. Researchers at Delft University of Technology and the University of Antwerp utilized a synchroton radiation-induced X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to show a portrait of a woman by Vincent van Gogh. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with an $8.9 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, will use mass spectrometry to detail histone changes as embryonic stem cells change.

The article discusses the properties of stem cells and also summarizes the most important work currently looking into their role in managing eye diseases. It is stated that embryonic stem cells are associated with the earliest stages of cell development. These cells are able to generate the full range of cell types within the organism from which they are obtained.

The article reports that lead or a new drug that performs like lead can change human embryonic retinal stem cells into neurons that would be transplanted to treat patients with retinal degeneration. According to Dr. Donald A. Fox and his team, they saw an unusual change in the cellular composition of the mice's retina which were exposed to low levels of lead during gestation. However, he says that more research is needed before such potential could be developed to imitate the effects of lead.

Reports on the competition among several U.S. states for stem cell research funding in 2005. Views of Debbie Hart, president of the Biotechnology Council of New Jersey in Trenton, on developments in California; Opposition of right-to-life advocates against the research; Funds provided by the federal government for embryonic stem cell research cultured before August 2001.

Reports on a workshop held by a National Academies committee tasked with deriving guidelines for the derivation, use and handling of human embryonic stem cells in the United States. Creation of the workshop to gather information on related scientific, ethical and policy issues; Increase in public interest in stem cell research; Opposition to somatic cell nuclear transfer, a form of therapeutic cloning.

The article focuses on a research conducted by researchers from University of Wisconsin and Morgridge Institute for Research in which they analyzed growth of three-dimensional brainlike tissue structures. It presents views of researcher Michael Schwartz, on the neural cell types which they derived from the human embryonic stem cells.

The article reports on recent attempts to use human embryonic stem cells to slow or reverse macular degeneration in Stargardt's disease sufferers.

The article reports on the discovery by researchers led by Thomas Carell of the Germany-based Ludwig Maximilian University of the novel genetic base, 5-Formylcytosine in the embryonic stem cell deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

The article reports on the apprehensions shown by scientists in Europe on the impending decision to be issued by the European Court of Justice that could ban patents for embryonic stem-cell lines.

The article presents a study which reveals that non-embryonic human stem cells could be applied to treat or cure age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It notes that the discovery of human-induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells may allow researchers to utilize a patient's stem cells to produce retinal tissues and cells for transplantation. Professor Nady Golestaneh discusses the production of hiPS-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells.

The article focuses on the human trial of human embryonic stem-cell therapy, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in the eyes of 12 patients with Stargardt's macular dystrophy.

The article reports on the approval by U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis S. Collins in June 2010 of additional eight human embryonic stem cells eligible for federally funded research.

The article reports on the approval of the 13 additional human embryonic stem cell lines by the National Institute of Health (NIH), such as H7 and H9, to be used for federal funded research.

The article presents a study on the variations in bone nodules from cultures of osteoblasts, embryonic stem cells, and adult stem cells from bone marrow. The study conducted by Molly M. Stevens and colleagues at Imperial College London in England, show that nodules from embryonic stem cells are similar to the crystalline minerals observed in older bones. Tissue-engineering scientists Jeffrey O. Hollinger said the work suggests that scientists need to understand the biological design of bones.

The article discusses the under draft guidelines released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in April 17, 2009 on the research on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in the U.S. HESCs was developed from leftover embryos for in vitro reproductive purposes. NIH is responsible in the development of the guidelines in accordance with the order of U.S. President Barrack Obama. Acting director Raynard S. Kington of states that the organization is started to expand funding for research.

The article presents a research concerning stem cell differentiation. It is found a small molecule would be helpful in differentiating human embryonic stem cells into pancreatic progenitor cells. Researchers have concluded that small-molecule inducers can be more efficient than growth factors to direct differentiation.

The article reports that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given California-based biotechnology company, Geron, the approval to inject living cells manufactured from human embryonic stem cells into a handful of patients with spinal cord injuries. According to the author, the trials will be the first in the world to test the safety of a therapy derived from human embryonic stem cells in people.

The article reports on the potential of embryonic stem cell therapies to enhance cell differentiation. A new research work shows that the delivery of molecules within aggregates of embryonic stem cells through biodegradable microspheres enhances the efficiency and purity of differentiation. The discovery refutes the claimed inability of stem cells to develop in desired specific cell types. It likewise enhances its significant use for regenerative medicine and tissue replacement.

The article reports that the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) has upheld two patents owned by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) that cover the derivation of primate and human embryonic stem cells. The decision comes under two weeks after PTO upheld another of WARF's key stem cell patents. The three patents are based on work done by Professor James A. Thomson of University of Wisconsin.

The article reports that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has upheld a key stem cell patent held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WRAF). The upheld patent was originally issued in 2001. It covers the development of a replicating in vitro of human embryonic stem cells. WRAF is an organization that manages patents for the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

The article reports on studies to create something similar to human embryonic stem cells from mature cells without using a human egg or creating an embryo. The traditional method of stem cell cloning uses a process known as somatic cell nuclear transfer which involves the removal of the nucleus of an egg cell and replacing it with the nucleus of a mature cell from the organism being cloned.

The article reports that the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to three researchers for discoveries associated with the use of embryonic stem cells to introduce specific gene modifications into mice. The $1.5 million prize was awarded to Mario R. Capecchi, professor human genetics and biology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Martin J. Evans, professor of mammalian genetics at Cardiff University in Wales and Oliver Smithies, professor of pathology.

The article reports on the study concerning the development of nanowire technology that embeds embryonic stem cells by the researchers of the University of California in Berkeley. It reveals that silicon nanowire could connect individual cells to one another as well as wire the cells to external sensors and other electronic devices. It is expressed that the interaction of nanowires and biological cells occur with external force.

The article presents information on the role of embryonic stem cell transplantation to operate patients with degenerative retinal diseases. Embryonic stem cell transplantation offers methods for restoring vision to patients with eye diseases. According to eye specialist Ruben Adler, embryo can induce transplanted cells to treat visual disorders.

The article reports on U.S. President George W. Bush's decision to veto legislation to expand the number of cell lines available for embryonic stem cell research. The bill would have permitted federal funding for research using cells derived from embryos that were to be discarded from in vitro fertilization clinics.

The article provides information on Stem Cell Science, a company based in Scotland which researches therapies made from embryonic stem cells. Its initial public offering on the Australian Securities Exchange raised 12 million dollars. Chief Executive Officer Peter Mountford has announced the expansion of the company in the United States.

The article reports on the three policy changes made by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) to the licensing terms covering the set of patents it holds on primate embryonic stem cells. The policy changes comes as the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office is reviewing the validity of the patents. Industry-sponsored research are allowed to be done at academic or nonprofit institutions without a license from WARF under the first policy change.

The article reports on the controversy behind the claims of the researchers from the Advanced Cell Technology Corp. (ACT) on reports concerning stem cell research. The ACT published a paper in "Nature" indicating a derivation of embryonic stem cell lines from human embryos without destroying it. However, it has been sought that the embryos that were used in the experiment were being destroyed. As a response, the paper reports that the embryos used have been biopsied multiple times.

The article reports on developments in several laboratories in the U.S. A committee has been formed by The National Academies to update guidance on the conduct of human embryonic stem cell research. Richard Kayser has been designated as director of the Materials Science & Engineering Laboratory. Brookhaven National Laboratory director Praveen Chaudhari is planning to resign.

The article discusses various topics published within the issue, including one by Woo Suk Hwang on creating human embryonic stem cell lines.

The article reports on the establishment of the National Stem Cell Bank, which is awarded to the WiCell Research Institute in Wisconsin. According to the National Institutes of Health, the stem cell bank will unify many of the federally funded eligible human embryonic stem cell lines in a single location, reduce costs and maintain quality control over the cells.

The article comments on the effort of South Korean stem cell researcher Woo Suk Hwang and his team in developing a straight forward method of producing human embryonic stem cell lines. The author suggests that there were ethical issues surrounding their use of human eggs. The eggs donated by two junior members and eggs purchased from a number of other women at a fertility clinic are the basis of an ethics crisis.

The article reports that the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) has been awarded a grant to help researchers advance their understanding of how human embryonic stem cells can be differentiated into ocular cells to treat eye disease. The grant is part of a contentious legal and ethical battle over the use of embryonic stem cells. The UCSB has planned to use its money to support a variety of interdisciplinary studies of the stem cells' basic biology.

Reports that researchers have been able to reprogram adult somatic cells to behave like human embryonic stem cells (ESC) in the U.S. Fusion between somatic cells and ESC; Potential of ESC to form replacement cells and organs for disease treatment; Significance of the scientific discovery.

Reports on the use of a preliminary version of the TaqMan MicroRNA (miRNA) Assays from Applied Biosystems to determine the miRNA expression profiles of mouse stem cells. Classification of embryonic stem cells according to miRNA expression profiles.

Comments on the passage of legislation by the House of Representative that would overturn President George W. Bush administration's policy that limits federal funding for embryonic stem cell research in the U.S. Provisions of the legislation; Arguments of the opponents of stem cell research; Details of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Reports on the National Academies' set of nonbinding ethics guidelines to help scientists standardize and protect the integrity of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research. Call for institutions doing hESC research to set up oversight committees; Review and monitoring of hESC research proposals; Implementing rules governing the donation of embryos, eggs and sperms.

Comments on the moral, ethical and religious aspects that surround stem cell research. Justification of the restrictions on embryonic stem cell research if it guaranteed a cure for certain diseases such as Parkinson's disease; Efforts of the researchers to avoid the controversy by devoting significant amounts of time and resources to studying adult stem cells; Reflection on blatant inconsistencies regarding decision-making that surround the question as to what constitutes life.

Discusses how the growing role of states in funding embryonic stem cell research can challenge researchers in the United States. Funding mechanisms created by California, New Jersey and other states to support human embryonic stem cell research; Predicted growth of state funding for the research.

Discusses Harvard University research groups' works about human embryonic stem cells in the United States. Permission applied from the university's ethics board by a group led by Harvard Stem Cell Institute Codirector Douglas A. Melton to derive cell lines from cloned embryos; Study of the use of somatic cell nuclear transfer to create embryos that carry the genetic material of patients with type 1 diabetes and Parkinson's disease; Use of cell lines derived from the embryos to study and develop treatment for the diseases.

Reports on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson's announcement of plans to establish a national embryonic stem cell bank.

Fifty-eight Senators have signed a letter to U.S. President George W. Bush calling for an expansion of the federal policy that limits the funding for human embryonic stem cell research. The letter, which is similar to the one sent to the President in late April by members of the House, illustrates the bipartisan congressional support for changing the current policy that strictly limits the number of stem cells lines available for federally funded research. The Senators wrote that scientists have told them that since the policy went into effect more than two years ago, they have learned that the embryonic stem cell lines eligible for federal funding will not be suitable to effective promote this research.

Discusses the debate about the use and morality of cloning. British Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority's licensing of the harvesting and cloning of human embryonic stem cells for therapeutic research purposes; Development of stem cells into a range of tissue types; View of therapeutic cloning as a way to help people with severe health problems; Cloning initiatives in countries such as South Korea and the United States.

Reports that a letter to the United States Congress from National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Elias A. Zerhouni defends the Bush Administration's policy on human embryonic stem cell research while suggesting that more stem cell lines might increase the pace of research. Response to one from Congress that called for the White House to expand current policy; Outline of NIH's commitment to funding stem cell research.

Focuses on a proposal for U.S. President Bill Clinton to expand his policy on embryonic stem cell research. Limitation of funds for the research.

Reports on the assessment done by James F. Battey Jr., chairman of the NIH Stem Cell Task Force to the embryonic stem cell lines. Scenario of potential stem cell lines; Number of viable stem cell lines; Scientific possibilities of human embryonic stem cells.

Discusses the challenges presented by humam embryonic stem cells. Efforts on directing embryonic stem cell differentiation into specific fates; Development of protocols for differentiation into other targets; Importance of exploration in the biology of stem cells in the knowledge of development of disease.