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Stem Cell Reversal Is Seen In Fruit Flies BALTIMORE, MD, May. 18 (UPI) -- Johns Hopkins scientists in Baltimore have restored fruit fly sperm-making stem cells by causing cells on the way to becoming sperm to reverse course. The fruit fly's sperm-making stem cells -- like all stem cells -- can renew themselves or develop into more specialized cells -- in this case sperm. While a few types of fairly specialized cells can naturally revert to their stem cell origins at times -- such as re- growth of salamanders' lost limbs -- the researchers documented what is believed to be one the first clear examples of an artificially triggered reversal of cell fate. "With a few exceptions, it is thought that once cells start down the path toward specialization, they can't go back," said Erika Matunis of Hopkins' Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences. "But we've clearly shown in fruit flies that lost sperm-making stem cells can be replaced, not by replication of remaining stem cells, but by reversal of more specialized cells." The Johns Hopkins researchers studied fruit flies whose "don't-specialize" signal for stem cells can be turned on or off by changing the temperature around them. Understanding how and at what point specialized cells can reverse course might help scientists discover how to use stem cells to regenerate lost or injured tissue. But there is no immediate application for people because sp little is yet known about the corresponding process in humans, according to Matunis. SOURCE: Washington Times, DC http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040518-082816-7132r.htm * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn