Cigarette damage to unborn children revealed in stem cell study
Scientists say the potent cocktail of chemicals in cigarettes is particularly harmful to developing liver cells and affects male and female fetuses differently. Researchers -- led by the University of Edinburgh -- have developed a novel way to study the effects of maternal smoking on liver tissue using embryonic stem cells. The stem cell technique will provide important information about the long-term effects of maternal cigarette smoking, say experts. The liver is vital in clearing toxic substances and plays a major role in regulating metabolism. Smoking cigarettes -- which contain around 7000 chemicals -- can damage fetal organs and may do lasting harm. Scientists used pluripotent stem cells -- non-specialised cells that have the distinctive ability to be able to transform into other cell types -- to build fetal liver tissue. Liver cells were exposed to harmful chemicals found in cigarettes, including specific substances known to circulate in fetuses when mothers smoke...