Drug Discovery and Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Genomics/Proteomics
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • R&D 100 Awards
  • Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50

Human Skin Cells Reprogrammed to Embryonic State

By Drug Discovery Trends Editor | November 20, 2007

University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers report the genetic reprogramming of human skin cells to create cells indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells. In addition to the scientific accomplishment, the findings could change the political and ethical landscape of stem cell biology as human embryos may no longer be needed to obtain the blank slate stem cells capable of becoming any of the 220 types of cells in the human body, the researchers say.

The new study was conducted in the laboratory of UW-Madison biologist James Thomson, who first coaxed stem cells from human embryos in 1998. It was led by Junying Yu of the Genome Center of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center.

“The induced cells do all the things embryonic stem cells do,” explains Thomson, a professor of anatomy in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “It’s going to completely change the field.”

An advantage of using reprogrammed skin cells is that any cells developed for therapeutic purposes can be customized to the patient.

Thomson notes that more study of the newly-made cells is required to ensure that the “cells do not differ from embryonic stem cells in a clinically significant or unexpected way, so it is hardly time to discontinue embryonic stem cell research.”
The research will be published in the November 22 online edition of Science.

Release Date: November 20, 2007
Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison


Filed Under: Genomics/Proteomics

 

Related Articles Read More >

DNA Script SYNTAX
DNA Script raises $165M Series C for DNA printing platform
DNA Script SYNTAX
DNA Script launches a benchtop DNA printer
DNA
Unraveling the promise of genetics for treating progressive illness 
Alzheimer's disease
How to build a foundation for the next phase of Alzheimer’s disease research

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.

Need Drug Discovery news in a minute?

We Deliver!
Drug Discovery & Development Enewsletters get you caught up on all the mission critical news you need. Sign up today.
Enews Signup
Drug Discovery and Development
  • MASSDEVICE
  • DEVICETALKS
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • MEDICAL TUBING + EXTRUSION
  • MEDTECH 100
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Subscribe to our Free E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Drug Discovery & Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Genomics/Proteomics
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • R&D 100 Awards
  • Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50