The NIH has rejected 47 stem cell lines carrying a variety of disease causing mutations reports the Chicago Sun-Times. The lines developed from preimplantation genetic diagnosis at the Reproductive Genetics Institute failed to receive the "OK" for federal funding because of a problem in the patient consent form. I reported on the initial controversey in a post a few weeks ago.
The lines are potentially a gold mine for researchers studying the relationship between the mutated gene and the development of diseases such as muscular dystrophy and huntington's disease. The stem cell lines will not be available for federally funded research and studies utilizing these lines must now be funded soley through private resources.
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