Ethics

Embryonic Stem Cells Could Cure Blindness

By Ed Brayton

The London Times reports:

BRITISH scientists have developed the world's first stem cell therapy to cure the most common cause of blindness. Surgeons predict it will become a routine, one-hour procedure that will be generally available in six or seven years' time.

The treatment involves replacing a layer of degenerated cells with new ones created from embryonic stem cells. It was pioneered by scientists and surgeons from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields eye hospital.

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on April 25, 2009 (boomark / email).