Stem Cells Blossom: Human induced pluripotent cells (iPSC) are stem cells made from ordinary (non-embryonic) skin cells that are given a transformational cocktail of four genes (cMyc, Oct4, Klf4, and Sox2). This allows reprogramming into any adult cell, such as human brain cells shown in the video.
• This breakthrough, first reported in 2006-07 by Shinya Yamanaka (Kyoto Univ. and UCSF), is being recognized by the Millenium Technology Prize. Yamanaka shares the prize with Linux creator, Linus Torvalds.
News: http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/111934/
iPSC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_Pluripotent_Stem_Cell
#sciencesunday #scienceeveryday
madame scientist's not-so-mad musings 
Sure thing, Feisal Kamil . Adult stem cells also get around ethical issues.
oh i c>>>>
Is there a medical need for IPSCs?
Media here in .de only cite theological reasons (pope Pius IX. changed the catholic doctrine in declaring zygotes to be persons, so Christians often oppose ESCs (that’s why Israel is leading in stem cell research)). The wikipedia article essentially seems to say that they are harder to make than ESCs and may have more problems but not, what they are really good for. Is genetic identity between patient and cells really required?
Btw., in discussions I prefer saying “theological issues” over “ethical issues”, since the ethical standpoints of both sides are identical (not to kill persons) – it’s just that theology deviates from the ordinary concept of personhood.
Shinae Choi Robinson , blooming fireworks to brighten our day, good morning to you too!
Ralf Muschall , because they are made from a patient’s own cells, they get around immune challenges. I’m assuming that each of us does not have banked stem cells from umbilical cords, for example. The adult patient cell carrying a mutation underlying a disease for which a therapy is sought would be useful for screening drugs against that specific defect, for example. I can think of many such uses.
Point taken about theology vs. ethical. However, there could be squeamishness about using discarded embryos that have nothing to do with religion.
very cool
Rajini Rao You’re no doubt right about squeamishness, but it’s unfortunate, ridiculous really, that such feelings are a part of public policymaking. Our very existence depends upon many things which are, not to put too fine a point on it … gross.
James Karaganis , we scientists do not do a good enough job with public outreach and expression of our passion and motivation for the science that we do. Instead, we let politicians and religious groups define us and pass policies that affect our work. I’ve had little success in persuading my colleagues to stop by G+ for example.
I agree that individuals can certainly make their own choice for the treatment they receive, but not at the expense of others who do not share their views.
more specific, politicians and religious groups have dead brain cells, they can’t think what is good and what is bad, they are blind by greed and power, and that’s why our brilliant scientists also losing their capability, but we must oppose this, this can happen by combinations of our intellectuals(scientists) and people., I agree with Rajini Rao thought.
Stem cells still many puzzles.
True, Vinod Pandey , stem cells still have a long way to go before they fulfill their promise. Thanks for your thoughts.
Rajini Rao Well, you can tell your colleagues that Evil Spock expresses great appreciation for your efforts in this regard.
Perhaps they simply don’t wish to be bothered by stupid questions, or don’t feel that it is a good use for their time. I can understand their perspective, but time and effort are the price of proselytization. And science, and those who practice it, need to do more of that.
Religious and political organizations understand this very clearly. Scientists need to as well, and G+ is uniquely suited to that purpose.
I was fortunate, I suppose: I’m not a scientist but I was surrounded by them when I was growing up. Frankly, I also think schools did a better job with science education then.
Thanks for sharing!
hi rajni good morning
Dahlias!
awesome and super video yr really
Awesome, DR.
I wish Stem Cell research riches a point where we can grow back the lost arm or leg of an amputee…that would be the holy grail of stem cell research I guess.
Recently, researchers were able to grow back a prosthetic ear for someone who lost the outer part of their ear to cancer. Yes, that would be one goal, Kashif Ansari , although artificial prosthetics may be a better way to go for limbs.
Wow… that’s great…
Rajini Rao This post fits well to the 2012 Nobel Prize:
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012
jointly to
John B. Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka
*for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed
to become pluripotent*
My special congrats to Shinya Yamanaka – I was hoping for this
http://bit.ly/PQ2dq9
Thanks, Gerd Moe-Behrens ! Could you post the link on my Nobel post today…I think it would be helpful. This morning, when I wrote my post, there was nothing on the Nobel web site other than the names of the two winnners and a brief statement. Good to see more details in the update.
In case you missed it, see here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/114601143134471609087/posts/eGZ1jTTbE4p
I just did Rajini Rao
Thanks 🙂
You are very much welcome.