Safety test for stem cells is developed in Australia

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) D9 F% f: p+ HCSIRO scientists develop safety test for induced pluripotent stem cells+ s& B: F5 O5 |% m5 f

( T. J. ^$ a& s3 QAustralian scientists have created a test to work out whether certain types of stem cells are unsafe.& l) k4 L; n) D+ n) l# K; I
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The CSIRO has spent five years developing a safety test for induced pluripotent (iPS) stem cells.+ a& H# B8 y( I! [/ Y

; G% f+ _( K2 N' E& Z8 }iPS stem cells do not require a human embryo and are considered an important research advance., z2 b# O9 K9 X6 N1 |' p. u! o
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Last month, scientists were able to use human skin cells to create early-stage embryos.0 w5 x. {9 Z) P1 @" l! `5 u' r: Q
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There is much debate in the scientific community about the advantages of iPS stem cells over their embryonic counterparts.. ^3 m4 i2 |( _0 G& h8 i
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The CSIRO's Andrew Laslett says there is still a number of question marks about the long term stability and safety of iPS cells.3 x  k/ ]8 f$ ^5 f

1 D, z) J) [$ ?"At this stage it appears that human embryonic stem cells may be slightly safer, but it's early days," he said.. u; c# W; o2 w. K' b. \$ X! r! O- Z8 e
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Dr Laslett says the new test will provide more information about the quality of iPS and help identify unwanted cells that can mutate.
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"Sometimes the cells that are made from the iPS cells change back into stem cells which are unwanted because these cells can form tumours called teratomas," he said.
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Dr Laslett is hoping the research will be used to ensure stem cell therapies are safe for humans.. e: |& J# z) a2 ]. u  o* A
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"Any cell line that's going to be used for cell therapy has to go through a whole barrage of different tests to see whether they're safe," he said.
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"We hope that this one will be added to that number of tests... and it's really the first one that's entirely specific for human induced pluripotent stem cells."6 Y, v+ {1 C4 {$ y

1 R7 o, o/ S8 y# m% ^1 K  D& e5 V By science and technology reporter Jake Sturmer % i# H3 I, f9 K+ ]" ^6 d# A
Posted Tue Jun 4, 2013 1:21pm AEST