Researchers Report Adult Stem Cell Breakthrough.

Writing in the August 25 issue of Cell, Japanese researchers announced they have successfully modified a mouse skin cell into an embryonic-like stem cell, according to Yomiuri Shimbun. If the technology can be adapted to humans, the implications for the ongoing debate over the use of embryonic stem cells would be enormous.

"This is very exciting information, since it reveals a roadmap by which pluripotent cells might be obtained for therapeutic purposes, without having to obtain them from embryos," John Lough, a stem cell researcher at the Medical College of Wisconsin, told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "As a result, ethical dilemmas would largely be defused."

Japanese scientists Shinya Yamanaka and Kazutoshi Takahashi of Kyoto University identified four genes needed to transform adult stem cells into "induced pluripotent stem" (iPS) cells. They implanted the genes into a skin cell obtained from a mouse tail.

"In two weeks, the skin cell with the four gene factors developed to take on a similar pattern to embryonic stem cells," Yomiuri Shimbun reported. "Its pluripotency was also confirmed as the cell developed heart muscle cells and nerves, and showed signs of a pulse on a culture dish."

"Pluripotency" refers to the ability of the cells to differentiate into any cell type (other than gametessperm and ova). Researchers hope this will translate into ...