Reprogamming Cells

In this article, Gretchen Vogel describes the recent research and breakthroughs that are going on in the world of genetics. Doctors are now able to reprogram cells to perform different bodily functions in a matter of weeks. However, the road to achievements such as these has not been any easy one. At first, embryonic stem cells could be programmed to become any type of body cell, as long as they had not already begun to diversify from the other cells of the embryo. This raised many ethical and legal questions though, and it seemed as if stem cell research would come to a standstill. Then Japanese researchers developed iPS cells, induced pluripotent stem cells. These are cells that have already matured, and are able to be reprogrammed, with the insertion of only a small number of genes, to embryonic-like cells. American researchers built upon this research and were able to reprogram a cell to go directly from a mature cell of one type, to a mature cell of a different function.
However, there are many problems of reprogramming cells still to be resolved. The efficiency of these processes is terrible, and less than 1 in 10,000 cells can be reprogrammed. New research suggests that keratinocytes from skin cells provide a better course of action, because roughly 1% can be reprogrammed and only take days to mature instead of weeks. Yet, much more research must be done because 1% efficiency is still terrible. If my car engine was only 1% gas-efficient, I might shoot myself. This is a medical development that needs to be invested in because so many genetic diseases can be kept under control, if not all together nullified. Diseases such as Lou Gehrig’s disease and Type I diabetes would be more controllable, and not destroy the lives of so many. As with all medical technology and medications, there are risks and genetic altering therapy has many, including an increased risk of cancer. However, as more research is conducted, the risks will be minimized. I am also willing to bet that a good amount of people with these diseases will accept these risks and try the therapy if it will help their live and the lives of their loved ones.