http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2008/08/01/scientists_
report_a_breakthrough_in_stem_cell_production/

What i learned from the article

Because of the controversy when dealing with stem cell research, reaserchers have begun to figure out new ways of obtaining these cells without involing human eggs and hard to find adult stem cells. "Researchers at Harvard and Columbia have generated embryonic-like stem cells using skin samples from an elderly ALS patient." (http://www.boston.com/news) Thanks to this new discovery it will be easier for researchers to get a hold of stem cells, and will accelerate the speed at which they can experiment. This research will then hopefully lead to further advancements in the stem cell field. The rearch also helps scientits by allowing them to compare "diseased cells to normal cells in a Petri dish, scientists hope to better understand what causes disease and test new drugs." (http://www.boston.com/news)

Questions this article raised
When was this new method discovered?

What is the difference between these stem cells and other stem cells?

Is there a difference at all?

Can we use these cells the same way embryonic stem cells could be used?

Helpful definitions

Petri Dish