This new technique avoids ethical debates surrounding the stem cell biology. The reason of this is because it requieres only skin cells to be done. The technique consists in extracting skin cells from a mouse and inject 4 specific genes to it nucleus. This procedure transforms the cell into a embryonic state. Embryonic cells can be induced to develop all of body tissues like heart, liver and kidney cells. This new cells wouldn`t be rejected by the patient`s inmune system. Maybe this technique can be adapted to human cells and used like a treatment for several diseases. It`s an easy and interesting technique that can help to fight for a better human health. One of the best benefits of this technique is that it doesn`t raise serious moral problems because it creates embryonic-like stem cells without creating, harming or destroying human lives at any stage.
This new technique has been developed by Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University. He developed it by searching for essential genes that are activated in the embryonic stage and mantain the pluripotency of the cells.
This technique have some problems like cancer and the fact that cells have to be infected with the gene-carrying virus to transform to the embryonic stage.
Anyway this technique is a huge advance for science, stem cells biology and regenerative medicine.
New York Times,"Scientists Move Closer to Turning Skin Cells Into Tissues" By Nicholas Wade
link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/science/06cnd-cell.html?hp
