When most people hear the word “virus,” a chill goes down their spine. Viruses are dreaded for their ability to knock us off our feet, and feared for their ability to kill us in our prime. Viruses are blamed for everything from a runny nose and a missed day of work to a pandemic that kills tens of thousands. Clearly, we should associate a negative connotation with this dastardly word, whose etymology links “virus” to snake venom and steaming poison, right? The answer may surprise you.
Read MoreRegenerative Medicine on the Doorstep: a technology in its infancy takes another step toward the clinic
In vitro maturation of stem cells into pancreatic β-cells (insulin secreting cells) for implantation into patients with type-1 diabetes (T1D) presents an opportunity for regenerative therapies to expand their usefulness and break into mainstream medicine by treating large patient cohorts.
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Illustration: Andrew Lee
The Breakthrough in Breaking DNA
According to doctors, Vincent Freeman was born with faulty genetics. His parents were notified that he had a high probability of developing a variety of disorders and, at best, would not live beyond his mid-30s. From an early age he “came to think of [himself] as others thought of [him]—chronically ill. Every skinned knee and runny nose was treated as if it were life-threatening.” Two years after Vincent was born, his parents decided to have a second child, Anton. Unlike his older brother, Anton was genetically superior: “a son [his] father considered worthy of his name.”
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