Induced pluripotent stem cells
Induced pluripotent stem cells (pronunciation: /ɪnˈdjuːst plʊərɪˈpɒtənt stɛm sɛlz/), also known as iPSCs or iPS cells, are a type of Pluripotent stem cell that can be generated directly from adult cells. The iPSC technology was pioneered by Shinya Yamanaka’s lab in Kyoto, Japan, who showed in 2006 that the introduction of four specific genes encoding Transcription factors could convert adult cells into pluripotent stem cells. He was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize along with Sir John B. Gurdon "for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent."
Etymology
The term "induced pluripotent stem cells" is derived from the process of inducing the cells to become pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into any type of cell in the body. The term "stem cells" refers to the cells' ability to divide and create more cells.
Related Terms
- Pluripotency: The ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo.
- Somatic cell: Any cell of a living organism other than the reproductive cells.
- Cell differentiation: The process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type.
- Gene expression: The process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product.
See Also
References
- Takahashi, K., & Yamanaka, S. (2006). Induction of pluripotent stem cells from mouse embryonic and adult fibroblast cultures by defined factors. Cell, 126(4), 663-676.
- Gurdon, J. B. (1962). The developmental capacity of nuclei taken from intestinal epithelium cells of feeding tadpoles. Journal of embryology and experimental morphology, 10(4), 622-640.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Induced pluripotent stem cells
- Wikipedia's article - Induced pluripotent stem cells
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