Learn node: Bone marrow stem cells are doing new and wonderful things

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Posted on 26th August 2008 by Judy Breck in biology | health | molecules, cells

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A learn node about bone marrow stem cells healing and curing in new ways points to an exciting, complex, and developing story. The highlights below link out into clusters of news and information on bone marrow stem cells. To review the basics, The National Institute of Health Stem Cell Information webpages include a video of stem cells dividing and sections on Stem Cell Basics, which begin:

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

Harvard Science describes how bone marrow stem cells may help control inflammatory bowel disease in “the first demonstration of their ability to suppress a broad-based autoimmune reaction and protect gastrointestinal tissue.” Science News headlines: Bone Marrow Alternative: Stem Cells From Umbilical Cord May Be Used To Treat Hepatic Diseases, in an article pointing to stories about several other uses for bone marrow stem cells.

The Learn.Genetics project at the University of Utah offers a section on Stem Cell Therapies Today with illustrated explanations and links to related tropics. The National Cancer Institute provides detailed discussions of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation.

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Learn Node: Gorilla conservation good news

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Posted on 5th August 2008 by Judy Breck in biology | ecology | environment

This learn node about the discovery of 150,000 western lowland gorillas is prompted by a New York Times Science Times report. The image with this post is from a slide show accompanying the Science Times article. The discovery was announced by the Wildlife Conservation Society. The Society’s information section on the Western Lowland Gorilla does not yet have the good news of the new discovery as this learn node is written. By the time you are reading this it probably will because online resources are usually the first science to be updated. Although the new discovery makes some of the gorilla numbers happily out of date in this Gorilla Rescue video, the presentation is an excellent introduction for young humans to the challenge that lies ahead in their lifetime for caring for their fellow creatures of our planet.