Australian scientists say they have found a way to make blood cells in volume out of human master cells, which could eventually lead to production of safe blood cells for transfusions and organ transplants. Synthetically produced red blood cells would, in theory, overcome the concerns about dangerous infections that can be transmitted from blood donors to patients worldwide. But researchers said it would probably take years for scientists to get to the stage where blood cells could be made in large enough quantities for transfusions. “What would be nice is if it opens the possibility for the future of making large quantities of blood cells in a controlled environment which could be used to treat patients,” said Andrew Elefanty, who led the research at Monash University in Melbourne. Writing in the U.S. journal Blood, the researchers said they were able to turn human embryonic stem cells into red and white blood cells using a system that makes more blood cells more rapidly and more safely, with fewer animal ingredients, than others have done.
