Red Blood Cells Made From Stem Cells

Scientists have found a better way to make red blood cells in the lab, a new study suggests. They used human embryonic stem cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. The manufactured blood cells act like natural red blood cells. The scientists said that this process could be used someday to make large amounts of red blood cells needed for transfusions. The red blood cells they made have an O negative blood type. This type is the most rare but can be transfused into anybody in an emergency. More study is needed. The Associated Press wrote about the study August 20. It appeared online in the journal Blood.