Scientists have demonstrated a new way to reprogram adult tissue to become cells as versatile as embryonic stem cells — without the addition of extra genes that could increase the risk of dangerous mutations or cancer.
Researchers have been striving to achieve this since 2006, when the creation of so-called induced pluripotent (iPS) cells was first reported. Previously, they reduced the number of genes needed using small-molecule chemical compounds, but those attempts always required at least one gene, Oct4.
Now researchers report success in creating iPS cells using chemical compounds only.
Read the full article here: Stem cells reprogrammed using chemicals alone
