Curing hearing disability???

Researchers from Indian University have successfully devised a method of generating hair cells i.e. the cells present in the inner ear, which are responsible for detecting sound and maintaining balance from stem cells. Any physical or chemical factor could damage these cells and the human body has no way of regenerating them. Koehler et al., 2013 from Indian University have devised a method of using a variety of modulators for stimulating stem cells into hair cells. This is a big achievement for what was previously thought to be impossible. Another group Oshima et al., 2010 had published similar data and generated hair cells but Koehler has used a unique 3D culture system from which the group has also detected the presence of neurons which bridge the inner ear and the brain.
This is a big step and if reproducible then could potentially solve hearing problems.

Koehler paper: - http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v500/n7461/full/nature12298.html

Oshima paper: - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20478259

Groundbreaking Technique

Japanese researchers have done it again. According to a new study published in nature a team of researchers from the Riken center of developmental biology have devised a new way of reprogramming somatic cells into pluripotent form. Stimulus triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) is the new technique introduced which relies on external stimuli such as low pH stressor.
If reproducible then it is MASSIVE step in reprogramming.

Papers http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v505/n7485/full/nature12968.html

           http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v505/n7485/full/nature12969.html

Happy New year!

I am extremely LATE with this post, but I have been caught up with my applications, which are a BIG deal for me! But better late than never...so happy new year to one and all. May this new year bring about new discoveries that buttress our diligent efforts to enrich mankind and life in general!
All the best to everybody!
Ciao!