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Controversial
stem cells lead Science top 10 in '99
Washington, Dec 16
Discoveries involving stem cells -- the controversial
"master" cells that can become any kind of cell
at all in the body -- topped the scientific advances of
1999, editors of the journal Science said recently.
The cells offer great promise as tissue transplants,
alternatives to animal testing for drugs and chemicals,
and for basic scientific research, but they have also
given rise to serious ethical questions because of one
source -- human embryos.
"Without question, the potential of embryonic stem
cells again fulfills our definition of a breakthrough as
a rare discovery that profoundly changes the practice or
interpretation of science or its implications for
society," Floyd Bloom, editor of the journal, said
in a commentary.
"Ultimately, perhaps, stem cells can form whole
complex organs, such as a kidney or liver, reducing the
need to await organ donations."
Teams of researchers have also found ways to reprogram
adult stem cells, and hope to someday make them as
malleable as embryonic stem cells. In the meantime, the
U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued
guidelines saying federally funded scientists may use
them, but may not produce them.
Under the draft guidelines, which will not be final until
the public has had two months to comment, the NIH
specifies that cells used in experiments it funds must
come from excess embryos created by couples for
infertility treatment that would otherwise be thrown
away.
Opponents of embryonic stem cell research, including some
members of Congress, say such research involves the
destruction of a human embryo and is not only immoral but
should be illegal.
The magazine, published by the American Association for
the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and considered the
preeminent journal for reporting general scientific
discoveries, rated
research involving genomes, the entire collection of an
organism's genes, as the "first runner-up" for
biggest discovery of 1999.
"The floodgates broke open on genomic research in
1999, releasing a torrent of data that included the
complete genome for several microbes, two maps of the
malaria parasite genome, and the first sequence for a
human chromosome," the journal said in a statement.
"Sequences for the fruit fly and humans are ahead of
schedule, with a rough draft of the human genome due in
March 2000. The genomic explosion continues to drive the
development of sophisticated tools like DNA 'chips' and
advanced databases to handle the sequencing, comparison,
and analysis of thousands of genes."
Other top discoveries, according to Science:
-- The first complete molecular map of the ribosome, the
tiny factory in a cell that makes proteins.
-- Fermion gas, a strange new state of matter that
physicists hope will help them decide the basic nature of
matter and build the next generation of atomic clocks and
lasers.
-- Australian rocks containing the remains of organisms
that exited 2.7 billion years ago. The finding pushed
back theories of when complex life originated by a
billion years.
-- Gamma ray bursts linked to the collapse of supernovas.
Both Earth-based and orbiting telescopes were able to
capture the fading afterbursts of the explosions, which
once mystified scientists.
-- Measurements of microwaves left over from the Big
Bang. The findings suggest the universe was created in a
burst that stretched space flat -- meaning it will
neither expand forever, nor will it all end in a Big
Crunch, but will just expand until the movement
eventually peters out.
-- Images of neurons that illustrate how brain cells
preserve memory.
-- Planets outside our solar system.
Next year, Science's editors said, watch for discoveries
involving enzymes in Alzheimer's disease, river
restoration projects, X-ray astronomy, epigenetics (the
study of how cells decide to differentiate),
nanocomputers (molecule-sized computers) and the
eradication of polio worldwide.
Reuters
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