Cell biologists discover on-off switch for key stem cell gene
Monday, December 15, 2014 - 17:01
in Biology & Nature
A new study by cell and systems biologists investigating stem cells in mice shows, for the first time, a relationship between the Sox2 gene which is critical for early development, and a region elsewhere on the genome that effectively regulates its activity. The discovery could mean a significant advance in the emerging field of human regenerative medicine, as the Sox2 gene is essential for maintaining embryonic stem cells that can develop into any cell type of a mature animal.