Last November, scientists announced that by inserting certain genes into cells, they turned those cells into ones that have the capability of turning into any type of body tissue. These are called pluripotent cells which act like embryonic stem cells.

Only four genes are needed and the injection of them to skin cells prompts the process of becoming similar to a stem cell. James Thomson and his other colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison published their findings in Science. Shinya Yamanaka and colleagues at Kyoto University in Japan also presented their research in Cell. The two groups had slightly different ways of carrying out the procedure yet had relatively successful results. Preliminary trials show that the new cells have the potential of becoming nerve cells, heart cells, etc.

With previous procedures, inducing pluripotent stem cell production caused the destruction of the embryo. However, these new techniques do not involve an embryo at all which will solve that problem. The procedure still needs to be refined, though. It involves the use of viruses to inject the genes into the cell’s DNA. The virus inserts the genes randomly which could cause mutations and maybe even cancer. Safer ways of injection are being developed.

There has been much discussion that leads to the possibility of infertile couples and even gay and lesbian couples having the ability to become biological parents with this procedure. However, it has been stated that at the moment there is no way to make eggs from a male or sperm from a female. In particular it is difficult for sperm to come from a female since the female carries no Y chromosome which is necessary for sperm production. Nevertheless, if this research continues and becomes successful, it could be the answer for many couples in the world without the ability to have children of their own.