Monday's CBS Early Show promoted embryonic stem cell research as co-host Julie Chen declared: "And blood shortages at hospitals could become a thing of the past. We're going to tell you how stem cells could hold the key to creating artificial blood." She later teased the story: "Up next, a doctor's dream, an unlimited supply of blood. We're going to tell you how one researcher thinks it can happen soon."
In a later report on the research, correspondent Elizabeth Palmer explained: "Every two seconds someone in the
Dr. Turner described the process while avoiding saying that human embryos would be destroyed: "These cells are being generated from human embryonic stem cells, which themselves are generated from three to five-day-old human embryos." Palmer similarly avoided the word 'destruction': "Stem cells can be coaxed, theoretically, to grow into any human body part. Dr. Turner's team will try to make them grow into O-negative blood. If they're successful, the payoff is huge.
Palmer highlighted a cancer patient who may benefit: "Martin King's post-cancer treatment means he needs blood every three weeks." Palmer later concluded here report: "Stem cell blood will probably not be available widely for transfusions for a decade. For millions around the world, though, it can't come soon enough."
Here is the full transcript of the segment:
7:11AM TEASE:
MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Plus, artificial blood. Could we be one step closer to ending the blood shortage forever? We'll tackle that provocative question ahead this morning on the Early Show.
7:30AM TEASE:
JULIE CHEN: And blood shortages at hospitals could become a thing of the past. We're going to tell you how stem cells could hold the key to creating artificial blood.
7:44AM TEASE:
CHEN: Up next, a doctor's dream, an unlimited supply of blood. We're going to tell you how one researcher thinks it can happen soon.
7:47AM SEGMENT:
JULIE CHEN: On this morning's 'Health Watch,' giving blood. No donors required. A British scientist has created blood in his lab and will soon be testing it on volunteers. CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports.
ELIZABETH PALMER: Every two seconds someone in the
needs blood. In surgery, on cancer wards, and on U.S. 's battlefields, blood transfusions save lives. But in the America , demand often exceeds supply. And elsewhere, especially in the developing world, there's a real chance the blood could be contaminated with diseases like AIDS or Hepatitis C. Enter Dr. Marc Turner, a cell biologist from U.S. who's received a multimillion-dollar research grant to make blood in his lab from human stem cells. Scotland MARC TURNER: These cells are being generated from human embryonic stem cells, which themselves are generated from three to five-day-old human embryos.
PALMER: Stem cells can be coaxed, theoretically, to grow into any human body part. Dr. Turner's team will try to make them grow into O-negative blood. If they're successful, the payoff is huge.
GAIL ROBOZ: What would be phenomenal would be if we could create infection-free blood that is laboratory generated.
PALMER: Martin King's post-cancer treatment means he needs blood every three weeks.
MARTIN KING: If there's a way to make sure that that blood supply never goes down, that would be extremely helpful.
PALMER: Stem cell blood will probably not be available widely for transfusions for a decade. For millions around the world, though, it can't come soon enough. Elizabeth Palmer, CBS News,
. London
