Growing Stem Cells without Feeder Cells

An article in Science Daily referencing an Journal from Nature 2013 explores the ability to independently grow large numbers of stem cells in the lab.

                This discovery was almost accidently stumbled upon by Dr. Robers.  He was originally researching a blockade of the membrane protein CD47 and applied it to lung cells observing maintained growth, health, and function.  He then decided to further experiment to find how CD47 effects cell growth.

            Through experiment his team found that cells from mice lacking CD47 formed clusters of cells much like stem cells or (iPS cells) when exposed to growth hormones.  These iPS cells could then be directed to become cells of other tissue types with different growth factors.  Unlike usual rapid stem cell cultivation these cells did not form tumors when injected into mice.  This discovery could not only lead to a new way to culture iPS cells but a way for patients to form more of  their own iPS cells in their own body.