Researchers can reprogramme the cells back to their original state for regenerative medicines
Early mammalian growth is a complex process that involves elaborate and highly coordinated biochemical processes. ZGA is one such process that occurs after the union of sperms and eggs, which marks the beginning of life. Early embryos that are formed, called ‘zygotes,’ can generate the entire organism. This property is known as totipotency.
Totipotent stem cells are the most potent of all cell types and sit at the top of the developmental hierarchy. This gives them an unlimited therapeutic potential. The totipotent zygote is able to differentiate more than pluripotent stem cells which can only differentiate into the cell types of the embryo.
Scientists from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore have discovered a way to manipulate the pluripotent cell to acquire the totipotent capability previously believed to exist only in zygote. The discovery not only offers new insights into the formation of totipotency and the early events in mammalian developmental processes, but also opens up possibilities for cell therapies.
Source:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-01-reprogramme-cells-state-regenerative-medicine.html
