What a extraordinary summertime it has been. We went on an glorious mountain bike mtn bike ride through the Sequoia National Park. Everything about the trip was sensational except for the drive up . I had my mtn bike on the back of the car and equipment all packed up the night before. I started the ride up alone as I left early from the office. My meet up time was set for eight pm where I was to meet with my friends on the mountain since I didnt know where exactly the campsite would be. I had to make the timing just right otherwise I would not meet them. After that time, they were to expect that I got held up and would try again at the same spot at 10am the next day. This means if I was too late, I would end up sleeping in my car alone that night.

Turns out I made it through traffic and up the hill in time to unhook my bike, crack open a beer and bike ride up and down a couple of little hills before dark and before my buddies would arrive. The air was crisp and I was excited to be away from the city. My Santa Cruz Heckler was in tip top shape and ready to tear up some rails and free riding, fresh out of the shop. The crew arrived to pick me up and show me where our spot was.

Our mtn bike ride started early and we were ready with big packs stuffed with plenty of food and water. The first crank up the big hill was ridiculously long. We pedaled over 10 miles uphill, that took over 2hrs. Making it to the summit was awesome. I chugged nice clean water out of my stainless steel water bottle.

The next 8hrs was spent jamming up and down hills, over fallen logs, off huge hits and hucking over big rocks. A couple of breaks were in order throughout the day where we drank a bit of booze and shared treats we had packed away. The terrain was impressive and just right for some summertime riding. There was a bit of ice still left on the ground from the spring melt. The temperature was perfect, not too hot, not too cold.

In 2006, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka created induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) which used viruses as carriers of four key genes necessary to turn human skin cells back to their embryonic state. These cells are a critical development in stem cell research as it provides an alternative to embryonic stem cells, which have raised moral and ethical issues.

Stem cells are also known as the body’s master cells for their ability to produce any organ or tissue necessary. Yamanaka’s contribution, however, is merely a jumping board as it proved to be unsafe for human use. With the use of viruses, cancer is a highly probable adverse effect.

A mere three years later, however, Massachusetts-based biotech company Advanced Cell Technology reported that its scientists have found a way to create safer stem cells. Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Robert Lanza, led his team in using human skin cells and four proteins to create stem cells safe for human use.

Published in the scientific journal Cell, Dr. Lanza expounds on how they have created a method that eliminated the need for viruses. With the same genes used in the initial experiment, the innovation involves “tagging” them so that the cell will accept the entrance of the proteins. This breakthrough brings the medical field closer to lifesaving technology for diseases that were once thought of as lost causes.

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