Scientist Converts Human Skin Cells Into Functional Brain Cells

[Naks]

wow!

ScienceDaily (July 28, 2011) — A scientist at the Gladstone Institutes has discovered a novel way to convert human skin cells into brain cells, advancing medicine and human health by offering new hope for regenerative medicine and personalized drug discovery and development

In a paper being published online July 28 in the scientific journal Cell Stem Cell, Sheng Ding, PhD, reveals efficient and robust methods for transforming adult skin cells into neurons that are capable of transmitting brain signals, marking one of the first documented experiments for transforming an adult human's skin cells into functioning brain cells

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110728123107

 

[Devill]

This is amazing.

Medical science advancement FTW as I will need a new brain and liver by 2039....

 

[sand_man]

So if the skin cells were taken from the foreskin can we assume the patient is a ********?

 

[eXisor]

Damn, where were they when GW needed them?
.

 

[mercurial]

Wow.

 

[Toitjie]

this is pretty insane.. and awesome at the same time

 

[porchrat]

Oh yea read about this a few days ago. Seriously cool.

There was even a study using this method to analyse the differences between the relationships between schizophrenic neurons and normal people neurons. The findings were interesting. I read it in printed news form but I'll look around and see if I can't find a link to the study and add it to this thread.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I know lots of people who would benefit from this.