DIY Tumors

Last month I wrote a piece for the New York Times about what ten scientists are looking forward to in 2011. One of the scientists, Rob Carlson, saw garage stem-cell research in our near future: “It seems pretty likely within this year someone will show how to go from an adult peripheral blood draw to pluripotent stem cells. It means anyone who wants to try to make stem cells will be able to give it a whirl.” Carlson took to his own blog to write at more length about what exactly he meant. For one thing, stem cell biohackers may want to think twice before sticking stem cells in their own bodies. They could end up with what Carlson calls DIY tumors. Check it out.