What are induced pluripotent stem cells?

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are somatic cells that have been reprogrammed into an undifferentiated state. Every single cell in our body contains the complete copy of our DNA, what differentiates the cells is which part of the DNA is "turned on" or active. This is how our cells know how to become liver cells, skin cells, ect. Scientists have discovered a way to turn somatic cells into an embryonic stem cell like state, allowing for rapid growth and the capability of differentiating into "advanced derivatives of all three primary germ layers." (7)

 

Why are they important?

Induced pluripotent stem cells have limitless potentials being able to be used in "basic biology, drug development, and transplantation." By being nonintegrating episomal vectors it also reduces the chances of a mutation occuring. They also do not require genomic integration or exogenous factors making treatment more simple and reliable. (8) 

 

How do we make them?

In 2006, Shinya Yamanaka and a team of scientists from Kyoto University announced that they successfully reprogrammed adult mouse fibroblasts into iPSCs. Multiple scientists over several years have been trying to accomplish this task in the exact way as Yamanaka using the four main reprogramming, Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc and Klf4, which are known for maintaining pluripotency. 

“People have been working on reprogramming with nearly identical approaches and concepts for a long time,” says Sheng Ding of The Scripps Research Institute, “but I would say that most attempts failed; that's why this work with iPSCs was a breakthrough discovery.” (9)