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Scientists have succeeded in turning embryonic stem cells into ones that generate cartilage, paving the way for new treatments of diseases such as arthritis. The researchers, based at the University of Manchester and the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, are confident that the technique can be used to mass produce cartilage-producing cells, called chondrocytes. They will now test how well the cells repair cartilage in animal experiments, and hope the breakthrough will lead to better and cheaper treatments within a decade. The researchers believe that the principles could be adapted to produce other types of cell for a range of clinical uses.