Synthetic Blood from embryonic stem cells

[science_spot]

 

Embryonic stem cell research is one of the great debates in the USA.  This post today is not to debate the topic.  Today I want to report what could be one of the greatest breakthroughs in modern medicine.

Synthetic, universal blood. 

Type O blood is the most precious blood type because it can safely be given by transfusion to any person, no matter their blood type.  It also happens to be the blood type carried by the fewest individuals, so type O blood stocks are in shorter supply.  Blood transfusions save the lives of thousands of patients in the USA (and worldwide) everyday.

Our current blood supply is at risk of not only shortages, but also at risk for viral contamination that could lead to disease transmission.  The blood banks mitigate this risk by testing donor blood for virus, but the risk remains for virus we don't know exist or cannot detect.

So what does this have to do with embryonic stem cells?

Well last year a company called Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) developed a method in the lab to generate oxygen-carrying red blood cells from human embryonic stem cells.  This week, it was announced they will start a collaboration with UK researchers to bring this research to the clinic, a process they say will take about 5-10 years.  They will need to prove the cells can be generated in extremely large quantities, prove the transfusions work as well as conventional style transfusions, and prove safety.

What are your thoughts?  Is this potential to save hundreds of thousands of people with synthetic blood worth the money they are spending on the research and scale-up?  Would you refuse a blood transfusion if you knew the blood was synthetic and was made from an embro?

For more information on the basics of stem cells, see the FAQ post and also the All About Stem Cells group.

Tonya

AKA sunmoonstars

The Science Spot 

 

 

[aenima49]

Mar. 25, 2009 at 9:41 AM

Wow, that is crazy!  Synthetic blood!  Blood saved DH's life about 13 years ago so he gives blood every chance he gets, even though he is afraid of needles!

I weigh enough to donate now, but only because I am preg.  LOL  I am O neg and DH is O Pos.  I did know that O could be used for anyone (neg anyway) but I didn't know it was unusual, I thought it was a common blood type.

To be honest, I would be tempted to say "no" if an embryo were created & destroyed specifically for that purpose (but you told me that the ones used for research are not come about that way).

In the end though, living to see my little girl is MUCH more important to me than any moral principals.  Sounds very hypocritical but I think if they told me they would have to kill a puppy to save my daughter's life, I would do it with my bare hands, kwim?