Stem+cell

Stem Cell Researchers at UC Irvine have found an improved method for genetically manipulating human embryonic stem cells, making it easier for scientists to study and potentially treat thousands of disorders such as Huntington’s disease to muscular dystrophy and diabetes.

The method for the first time blends two existing cell-handling methods to improve cell survival rates and increase the efficiency of inserting DNA into cells. The new approach is up to 100 times more efficient than current methods at producing human embryonic stem cells with desired genetic alterations.“The ability to generate large quantities of cells with altered genes opens the door to new research into many devastating disorders,” said Peter Donovan, professStem Cellor of biological chemistry and developmental and cell biology at UCI, and co-director of the UCI Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center. “Not only will it allow us to study diseases more in-depth, it also could be a key step in the successful development of future stem cell therapies.”