Since last week, the authors of this study have had time to rehearse their “surprise” and “surprise” on all platforms: skin cells of mice have been transformed into nerve cells and this without having to go through the stage of stem cells.

It would have been enough to insert these three genes in skin cells and in less than a week, at the bottom of the container, some of these cells (efficacy rate: 20%) began to form synaptic connections, as neurons that seemed to have become.

Back. In November 2007A first step in this direction was taken when the Japanese and U.S. researchers were able for the first time to “reprogram” adult cells genetically (human skin) so that they become stem cells, that is ie cells which have not yet specialized. The move by the state stem cell is a necessary step, presumably be asked, if you want to be then able to direct these cells to precisely-specialize in neurons, heart cells, lung, or what both sides.

But bypassing the stage of stem cells, the team Marius Wernig, Stanford University, who published these findings in the online edition of January 27 Nature, Opens a door … where we do not even know there was a door: is it possible that any type of adult cell can be reprogrammed into any other cell type?

If that were true, then need more stem cells, embryos need, and finally the ethical debate on embryonic stem cells. It’s almost too good to be true, urge caution those who point out that this study deals only with mice and on mouse cells the bottom of a broth culture. Besides the researchers themselves confess ignorance part of the biochemical process that led to this “reprogramming.”

But at the rate things are progressing since 2007, the next episode will soon probably not too …

Source:Agence Science-Presse,08/03/10.