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iPS cells
In this focus
Recently scientists found that a special property of stem cells called pluripotency — the ability to renew and form all cells of the body — can be induced by introducing only four transcription factors into adult cells. This process creates powerful stem cells similar to embryonic stem cells. Now scientists are working to make the technique more efficient and safe, and are creating induced pluripotent stem-cell lines from individuals with diseases for use in drug screening and research into disease mechanisms.
Image: Genetically corrected fibroblasts from Fanconi anaemia patients are reprogrammed to generate induced pluripotent stem cells, which, in turn, can be turned into blood cells. Courtesy of Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte.
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Current Research
News Feature
Stem cells: Fast and furious
Monya Baker
Nature 458, 962–965 (2009) doi:10.1038/458962a
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Proving pluripotency
Article
Reprogramming of human somatic cells to pluripotency with defined factors
In-Hyun Park et al.
Nature 451, 141–146 (10 January 2008) doi:10.1038/nature06534
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
Article
In vitro reprogramming of fibroblasts into a pluripotent ES-cell-like state
Marius Wernig et al.
Nature 448, 318–324 (19 July 2007) doi:10.1038/nature05944
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
Article
Generation of germline-competent induced pluripotent stem cells
Keisuke Okita, Tomoko Ichisaka & Shinya Yamanaka
Nature 448, 313–317 (19 July 2007) doi:10.1038/nature05934
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
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Safer iPS
Letter
Virus-free induction of pluripotency and subsequent excision of reprogramming factors
Keisuke Kaji et al.
Nature 458, 771–775 (9 April 2009) doi:10.1038/nature07864
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
Letter
piggyBac transposition reprograms fibroblasts to induced pluripotent stem cells
Knut Woltjen et al.
Nature 458, 766–770 (9 April 2009) doi:10.1038/nature07863
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
News and Views
Stem cells: Low-risk reprogramming
Martin F. Pera
Nature 458, 715–716 (9 April 2009) doi:10.1038/458715a
Letter
Pluripotent stem cells induced from adult neural stem cells by reprogramming with two factors
Jeong Beom Kim et al.
Nature 454, 646–650 (31 July 2008) doi:10.1038/nature07061
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
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Making human disease cells
Article
Disease-corrected haematopoietic progenitors from Fanconi anaemia induced pluripotent stem cells
�ngel Raya et al.
Nature advance online publication 31 May (2009) doi:10.1038/nature08129
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
Article
Induced pluripotent stem cells from a spinal muscular atrophy patient
Allison D. Ebert et al.
Nature 457, 277–280 (15 January 2009) doi:10.1038/nature07677
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
News
Reprogrammed skin cells provide testing ground for new drugs
Asher Mullard
Nature News 22 December (2008) doi:10.1038/news.2008.1323
News and Views
Motor neuron disease: The curious ways of ALS
Magdalini Polymenidou & Don W. Cleveland
Nature 454, 284–285 (17 July 2008) doi:10.1038/454284a
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Podcast
Nature Podcast 4 June 2009 Reprogramming diseased cells: Cells from Fanconi anaemia patients have their genetic defects corrected
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