2 ms·

Yes, this is really cool. But it is an improvement on earlier techniques: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_pluripotent_stem_cell http://en.wikipedia.org/wik

• jostmey 14y ago
  The study of cellular differentiation (and un-differentiation, as may be the case in cancer) is really taking off. I recommend the book "Epigenetic Revolution" by Nessa Carey to the laymen. It is the most accessible intro into the research that I know of.
• sp332 14y ago
  There are new techniques involved here. Generally, out of hundreds of blood cells, only one or two might turn into iPS cells. Using Zambidis' method, 50 to 60 percent of blood cells were engineered into iPS cells. Traditionally, scientists use viruses to deliver a package of genes to cells to turn on processes that convert the cells from one type (such as skin or blood) back to stem cell states. Zambidis' team uses plasmids, rings of DNA that replicate briefly inside cells and then degrade.
  • jostmey 14y ago
    Sure, Zambidis' group used electroporation to deliver the genes that convert adult cells back to a stem cell. But it appears that is the only new thing that they did. The 4 genes that they delivered to revert the adult cells back to stem cells were discovered back in 2006 by Yamanaka's group. It is the 4 genes that do all the magic, and identifying those genes was the really amazing step forward in the field. Electroporation, which it looks like what Zambidis et al used, is not without problems too.