Lead Into Gold: What The Scientists Are Saying

The science journal Cell has a great summary article today summarizing what the great announcement of the success of human cell reprogramming may mean (no link available):

Direct reprogramming of somatic [body] cells to a pluripotent state, thus reversing the developmental arrow of time, is considered by some to be the “holy grail” of stem cell research. Once the results in human cells are confirmed, these advances will enable the creation of patient-specific stem cell lines to study different disease mechanisms in the laboratory. Such cellular models also have the potential to dramatically increase the efficiency of drug discovery and to provide valuable tools for toxicology testing. Furthermore, this reprogramming system could make the idea of customized patient-specific screening and therapy both possible and economically feasible. Finally, the work will have a powerful impact on the intense debate regarding the moral, religious, and political aspects of ES cell research.

The journal suggests that human ESCR is not yet “obsolete” because much remains to be learned about pluripotency. But if seems clear: If this work holds and if scientists improve upon it, we are into a new and beneficial era that everyone can support.

Can we say, “Nobel Prize?”