Title:
Paralysed rats walk again after spinal therapy
Subject: Science trial to cure spinal injuries
Web
Address: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9303251/Paralysed-rats-walk-again-after-spinal-therapy.html
Date:
June 1
Author:
Nick Collins
Summary:
Scientists
have done a trial with rats with severe spinal injuries. Chemicals and electric
currents helped them grow new nerves in their spine that bypassed their injury.
This is good news for humans with spinal injuries such as people who are paralyzed.
The study, published in the Science journal, is the first to demonstrate that a
severely damaged spinal cord can adapt and recover enough to allow the brain to
regain control of the legs. Five to six weeks later, the rats had improved so
much that they could run, climb stairs and even move around obstacles. Dr
Elizabeth Bradbury, said: "This is ground-breaking research. However, some
questions remain before we know how useful this approach may be in humans.
Reaction:
I love these kinds of
researches. It may seem harsh to some people to test on animals, but this
proves once again that it can be very useful. It would be amazing if this technique
could be used to make paralysed people able to walk again. Obviously one trial
like this is not enough. There will have to be more trials similar to this one,
on animals more similar to humans. However, one cannot help but look at the
silver lining here: This might be a groundbreaking discovery in this field of
research.
It would be amazing if we could cure paralysed people, that we can make the lame walk again. Of course, that is still some ways away, but this little rat literally and figuratively took the first step to realising the dreams of paralysed people around the globe.
ReplyDeleteUsing rats to better the life of humans, FEH! How steretypical and awesome it is. Now could we please get a bowler hat, a cane and a pair of sunglasses and make the little thing tapdance, we could call him Mouseal Flatley. I know it's a rat but work with me on this one.
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