Scientists have discovered a simple method to convert adult cells into embryonic-like stem cells, which in future could be used to regenerate anything from new neurons to heart tissue.
The technique, described as a “game changer” for stem-cell therapy, requires ordinary skin or blood cells to be bathed in a weak citric acid solution for 25 minutes.
The method overcomes ethical concerns about using stem cells from human embryos and side-steps the practical and safety issues presented by previous methods for genetically “rewinding the clock” on adult cells.
The first demonstration by researchers from the Riken Centre for Developmental Biology in Japan, was in mice, but scientists believe that it is likely to work in human cells.
Chris Mason, a professor of regenerative medicine at