X-Message-Number: 11277
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: brain stem cells 
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 23:53:25 +1100 (EST)

Hi everyone!

Just today Ed Swank put on Cryonet a notice about brain stem cells and 
researchers interested in using them to repair human brains. (You see, 
contrary to what neuroscientists have thought for many years, our brains
can make new neurons, and cell cultures of stem cells taken from adult
human brains will also produce new neurons).

I must point out here that the 1 September 1998 issue of PERIASTRON
contained an article on that very subject, pps 2 to 3. The article not
only gave references to such work, but speculated on how they might be
used (with much more extra technology) even to replace neurons which
contained our memory. New neurons, of course, will help repair several
different kinds of brain damage --- something which may happen soon ---
but they cannot be expected to hold any fragments of memories which their
destroyed predecessors held. The ability to restore such neurons 
completely will require more technology than simple replacement. 

I do use databases on the Net to search for material, and also go through
the latest journals, too. (The databases require payment --- the latest
information is never free). And those who read PERIASTRON would have known
about brain stem cells (AND their potential) 5 months ago.

			Best and long long life to all,

				Thomas Donaldson

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