New Fast and Easy Technique to Reprogram Adult Cells May Have Ethical Issues

Scientists in Japan have developed a way to cheaply and easily take adult cells from mice and reprogram them back to a pluripotent or embryonic-like state. They demonstrated that these cells were capable of becoming all the cells in a full grown mouse. They call the technique “stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency” or STAP. Unlike, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that use viruses to reprogram a very small percentage of adult cells back to pluripotency, STAP uses stressors like acid baths or physical pressure to quickly reprogram a much larger portion of cells.Continue reading at LifeNews >>
Source: Mary Meets Dolly - Category: Geneticists and Genetics Commentators Tags: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Source Type: blogs