Developmental on-switch: Substances that convert body cells back into stem cells initially activate all genes in the embryo
Friday, August 16, 2013 - 11:00
in Biology & Nature
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time why the molecular cocktail responsible for generating stem cells works. Sox2 and Oct4 are proteins whose effect on cells resembles that of an eraser: They remove all of the cell’s previous experiences and transform it into a so-called pluripotent stem cell. Like cells in the embryo, this stem cell can then develop into all forms of tissue.