British and Japanese scientists share Nobel Prize for stem cell work
John Gurdon from the UK and Shinya Yamanaka from Japan were awarded the prize for changing adult cells into stem cells, which can become any other type of cell in the body.
The discoveries are placed almost 40 years apart. In 1962, John Gurdon showed that the genetic information inside a cell taken from the intestines of a frog contained all the information need to create a whole new frog. He took the genetic information and placed it inside a frog egg. The resulting clone developed into a normal tadpole. The technique would eventually give rise to Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal. (Source 1)
But how did the egg cell body accomplish this reprogramming feat? The answer had to wait 44 years, while molecular biologists gained a more intimate understanding of genes and the agents that control them.
Working with mice, Dr. Yamanaka discovered in 2006 that the reprogramming is accomplished by just four specific gene control agents in the egg. The agents, known to biologists as transcription factors, are proteins made by master genes to regulate other genes. By injecting the four agents into an adult cell, Dr. Yamanaka showed that he could walk the cell back to its primitive, or stem cell, form.
Stem cells generated by this method, known as induced pluripotent cells, or iPS cells, could then be made to mature into any type of adult cell in the body, a finding with obvious potential for medical benefits.
Many biologists hope that Dr. Yamanaka’s technique will be the gateway toward generating replacement tissues from a patient’s own cells for use against a wide variety of degenerative diseases. (from Source 2)
Incidentally, John Gurdon's report card contained the following comment from his high school biology science teacher (he still has that report card with him):
“I believe Gurdon has ideas about becoming a scientist; on his present showing this is quite ridiculous. If he can’t learn simple biological facts he would have no chance of doing the work of a specialist, and it would be a sheer waste of time, both on his part and of those who would have to teach him.”
Source:
1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
2) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/
3)http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
Image credit: www.nytimes.com
But how did the egg cell body accomplish this reprogramming feat? The answer had to wait 44 years, while molecular biologists gained a more intimate understanding of genes and the agents that control them.
Working with mice, Dr. Yamanaka discovered in 2006 that the reprogramming is accomplished by just four specific gene control agents in the egg. The agents, known to biologists as transcription factors, are proteins made by master genes to regulate other genes. By injecting the four agents into an adult cell, Dr. Yamanaka showed that he could walk the cell back to its primitive, or stem cell, form.
Stem cells generated by this method, known as induced pluripotent cells, or iPS cells, could then be made to mature into any type of adult cell in the body, a finding with obvious potential for medical benefits.
Many biologists hope that Dr. Yamanaka’s technique will be the gateway toward generating replacement tissues from a patient’s own cells for use against a wide variety of degenerative diseases. (from Source 2)
Incidentally, John Gurdon's report card contained the following comment from his high school biology science teacher (he still has that report card with him):
“I believe Gurdon has ideas about becoming a scientist; on his present showing this is quite ridiculous. If he can’t learn simple biological facts he would have no chance of doing the work of a specialist, and it would be a sheer waste of time, both on his part and of those who would have to teach him.”
Source:
1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
2) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/
3)http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
Image credit: www.nytimes.com
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