Scientists at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., say they have made an exciting discovery, devising a way to make human blood with just a sample of skin.

The discovery, published in the science journal Nature, is still preliminary. But the find could mean that one day, people undergoing treatment for cancers of the blood or other blood disorders won't have to rely on blood and bone marrow donations from others but could use blood created from their own skin.

"We know how it works and believe we can even improve on the process," said Bhatia [Mick Bhatia, scientific director of McMaster's Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute].

Bhatia says the next step is to find research partners so that his team can assess the safety of the blood cells and how they function in primates. If all goes well, clinical trials in humans could begin in 2012.


More. . .

I can see it now ... commercially produced "blood based" beverages for the vampire segment of the market

I can see real hope for cures for sickle cell anemia, leukemia and a universal donor blood supply not dependent on donations.. . . .