BALTIMORE, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Baltimore researchers have found evidence that genetically engineered heart cells from human embryonic stem cells might one day replace electronic pacemakers.
Study leader Ronald Li of Johns Hopkins said the findings are a promising biological alternative to the electronic pacemakers used by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
Electronic pacemakers are implanted in people suffering from certain heart conditions that interfere with a normal heartbeat. But the man-made pacemakers can't always react the way the heart's own pacemaker can.
The findings, published in Monday's advance online edition of Circulation, found human embryonic stem cells were genetically engineered to make a green protein, grown in the lab and then encouraged to become heart cells.
The researchers selected clusters of the cells that beat on their own accord -- indicating the presence of pacemaking cells -- and implanted them into the hearts of guinea pigs. The genetically engineered, injected heart cells triggered regular beating of the animals' hearts.
