Researchers have converted ordinary skin cells of mice into neurons, giving many hope that regenerative medicine has just taken a giant step forward, according to a recent Reuters article.
The study, which bypassed the need for controversial stem cells, could make it easier to treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s or damaged cells, such as beta cells. Insulin-producing beta cells are damaged or destroyed in people with Type 1 diabetes.
Researchers also hold out hope that the developments can help lead to better treatments for cancer and replace damaged livers. While the research was conducted with mice cells, replicating the same results with human cells is proving to be a little more difficult.
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