Oosight Microscope Enables Embryonic Stem Cell Breakthrough

A noninvasive, polarized light microscope invented at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) played a crucial role in a recent breakthrough in embryonic stem-cell research aimed at developing medical therapies.

In humans, this method for deriving stem cells is a potential way to make "custom" tissues that are genetically identical to a patient, which would avoid rejection by the patient's immune system. Stem cells, in theory, can be induced to become any type of cell, tissue or organ. However, in recent years, some investigators had claimed it wouldn't be technically possible to make embryonic stem cells from monkeys or humans using this method (somatic cell nuclear transfer, or therapeutic cloning).

Whole article on "Sciencedalily":[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071129183731.htm]