Cells Renew in the Human Heart

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Two articles for the 4th grader to find:
Bergmann, et al. (2009). "Evidence for Cardiomyocyte Renewal in Humans". Science, vol. 324, pg. 98.
Commentary: Murry, C.E. and Lee, R.T. (2009) Science, vol. 324, pg. 47-48.

Blond Ph.D. of CA 8:08PM April 06, 2009

I guess "scientific" journalists must get their information at places other than wikipedia. Maybe a 4th grader can teach their horribly rude and uneducated parent about scientific journal search engines like pubmed or *gasp* primary sources.

Ruby Nygen of MI 7:03PM April 06, 2009

C-14 is a useful marker in many types of scientific explorations. However, what was noted by the article is that an unnatural spike in atmospheric C-14 resulted from Cold-war Era nuclear testing. This is a widely accepted fact. The elevated concentration of C-14 can be used as a marker to study biological cells beyond what exists at background levels. It is quite fascinating that researchers are now able use this otherwise unfortunate marker, to evaluate a system that has proven quite challenging to explore using other methods. This is a big deal.
I would suggest that the carbon lifeform of CA actually read the original article that was accurately summarized by the journalist at Science News. Perhaps the 4th grader can download it: Murry, C.E. and Lee, R.T. (2009) Science, vol. 324, pg. 47-48.
Upon further scientific enlightenment the carbon lifeform in CA might reconsider his crass and unnecessary insults.

Blond Ph.D. of CA 6:41PM April 06, 2009

Uh... I'm not sure I agree with your take, or your need to lapse immediately into abuse based solely on the author's gender.
When these people were born, there were low levels of C14 (what's typical in use of dating, or even id'ing when a person is born.) Some point after this, (ie, nuclear event), levels of C14 rose. Only dividing cells would incorporate that isotope, since the original ratio would have been evident in cells that were formed in the lower C14 environment.
It's sort of the same carbon-dating principle, looking at isotope ratio, but with a biological spin.
This is a pretty big deal in the cardiovascular field. People have been fighting over adult cardiac myocyte division and the presence of 'cardiac' stem cells for a long time.

MD of MD 9:51AM April 06, 2009

I don't think you get it they are testing it to the levels found in todays atmosphere they are never saying that it didn't exist before we started making nuclear weapons.

John of TX 4:01PM April 05, 2009

Carbon-14 has been around as long as there has been carbon. um, has anyone heard of carbon dating fossils? duh. It's one of the three naturally occuring isotopes of carbon. Someone get this high school bubble gum chewing (probably) blond bimbo to school. I think my 4th grader knows better than that. She probably asked in-between blowing bubbles and texting where C-14 comes from and heard half the answer.
come on, and this is a "scientific" journalism site?
just so you know it's not just me, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-14

carbon lifeform of CA 3:16PM April 04, 2009

Carbon-14 has been around as long as there has been carbon. um, has anyone heard of carbon dating fossils? duh. It's one of the three naturally occuring isotopes of carbon. Someone get this high school bubble gum chewing (probably) blond bimbo to school. I think my 4th grader knows better than that. She probably asked in-between blowing bubbles and texting where C-14 comes from and heard half the answer.
come on, and this is a "scientific" journalism site?

Disgruntled Physicist of OH 3:03PM April 04, 2009