Thursday, March 09, 2006

Children's Hospital Boston Launches Virtual Stem Cell Laboratory

URL: http://www.childrenshospital.org/research
Summary: Prod. Manipulate. Investigate. The interactive offerings on the Children’s Hospital Boston Research Web site invite users to express their inner scientist. And today the site adds a new feature: a Virtual Stem Cell Laboratory.


The interactive stem cell laboratory is home to a computer-generated “living” culture of embryonic stem cells. When users launch the Flash-based feature, the cells quickly begin to reproduce through the process of mitosis (cell division). Users can then add different "coaxing" factors -- proteins, for example -- to differentiate the cells into increasingly specialized cell types.


From the initial colony of embryonic stem cells, virtual scientists can create 16 cell types ranging from red blood cells to motor neurons. The cells are even programmed to behave like their real counterparts. As the lab produces new cell types, the user learns what scientists know about the cells, including any known or potential therapeutic applications.


More at http://www.urlwire.com/news/030806.html


Posted by Eric Ward/URLwire

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