January 25, 2019

There is no safe level of alcohol consumption if you are pregnant. Nonetheless, women who are pregnant sometimes drink, and in some cultures, weekend bingeing of perhaps 3 to 8 drinks a night can yield dangerous outcomes.

Imagine if blood cells could be manufactured, offering an unlimited, universal blood supply for transfusions, transplants and other therapeutic uses. So many would benefit; millions of lives could be saved. Decades of research have brought us much closer to the possibility.

A process that prevents damaged cells from dividing also prevents the development of cancer, said NCI director Dr. Ned Sharpless. But over time, these cells might contribute to diseases associated with advanced age.