Tuesday, May 13, 2008

John S. O'Brien


John S. OBrien discovered the genetic cause of Tay-Sachs disease and developed the screening tests. He also was inventor to two patents regarding prosaposin. Prosaposin, according to the patent is in human milk, cerebrospinal fluid, and seminal plasma. Patent # 5700909 is called "Prosaposin and cytokine-derived peptides," and was filed in 1994. It is owned by The Regents of the University of California. He is co-inventor to another patent on prosaposin filed in 1995 but owned by Myelos Neuroscience Corporation. The 1994 patent states that, "Prosaposin increases nerve cell mylination ex vivo." This invention has "significant therapeutic applications in promoting functional recovery after toxic, traumatic, ischemic degenerative and inherited lesions to the peripheral and central nervous system." The patent also states that the invention has use as laboratory reagents and components of cell growth media in order to better enable growth of cells in vitro." Another substance in human milk that creates cell growth. Stem cells?? No, we didn't discovery stem cells until 2008.
Copyright 2008 Valerie W. McClain

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