Source: Scientific American
March 2007 issue
Summary:
Scientists at the biotechnology firm Advanced Cell Technology in Worcester, Mass., have generated a more abundant source of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. In 2004 they devised a way to coax embryonic stem cells to turn into transplantable RPE tissue. In a follow-up experiment, they injected the transformed cells into the eyes of rats that had a photoreceptor-killing genetic defect in their RPE cells. Other scientist believe these findings have suggested the development stages at which to transplant cells.
