I just came across the article where the team of scientist at Harvard University have claimed to develop a new way of transforming adult cells into stem cells without the usage of harmful viruses that can lead to cancer. They have used a totally new type of virus which can transform cells without the hassle of genetic alterations. This type of virus was never used in the stem cell production. The main benefit of this technique is that it rules out the usage of retroviruses which are used for the production of iPS i.e. induced pluripotent stem cells, which cause genetic alterations. Shinya Yamanaka, who led one of the teams at Kyoto University in Japan, first demonstrated the technique using mouse cells last year. Only with such efforts, is the research in the enormous field of stem cell possible.
So also scientists are actively searching for various chemicals that may used instead of the viruses that lead to genetic alterations. The main hurdles before scientists are transforming cells into stem cells free from genetic alterations and then perfecting the technique to transform these cells into any cells of the body. But techniques like these and iPS have ruled out the possibility of misuse of cells for cloning.
The research has still a long way to go but with efforts like these can the research advance with fruitful returns.
So also scientists are actively searching for various chemicals that may used instead of the viruses that lead to genetic alterations. The main hurdles before scientists are transforming cells into stem cells free from genetic alterations and then perfecting the technique to transform these cells into any cells of the body. But techniques like these and iPS have ruled out the possibility of misuse of cells for cloning.
The research has still a long way to go but with efforts like these can the research advance with fruitful returns.
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