Skin cells to stem cells
Science is constantly changing & evolving. What was once thought impossible can become possible with science. E.g. The reprogramming of skin cells into stem cells known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This revolutionized the stem cell world.
Yes, there are still challenges, but it has tremendous development since its discovery 14 years ago. Currently, there are several iPSC related clinical trials underway. Also, it revolutionized biomedical research. Researchers can now develop disease models from the iPSCs & use them for drug screening & study the mechanism of human pathologies when such models were highly inaccessible previously.
Science consists of both the body of knowledge & the scientific method to acquire new knowledge. It will keep changing since the world is always changing! 😊🔬
References
The Scientist ““Increasing Number of iPS Cell Therapies Tested in Clinical Trials” (28 Nov 2018)”
Nature “How iPS cells changed the world” (15 Jun 2016)
Gladstone Institute “Reflecting on the Discovery of the Decade: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells” (26 Feb 2016)
The New York Times “Risk Taking Is in His Genes” (11 Dec 2007)
“Induced pluripotent stem cells, a giant leap for mankind therapeutic applications” World J Stem Cells; 11(7): 421-430 (26 Jul 2019)
“Current Challenges of iPSC-Based Disease Modeling and Therapeutic Implications” Cells 2019, 8, 403 (30 Apr 2019)
“Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Embryonic and Adult Fibroblast Cultures by Defined Factors” Cell 126, 663–676 (25 Aug 2006)