Scientists trick cells into switching identities

Scientists trick cells into switching identities
By MALCOLM RITTER, AP Science Writer – Mon Nov 29, 6:23 am ET

NEW YORK – Suppose you could repair tissue damaged by a heart attack by magically turning other cells into heart muscle, so the organ could pump effectively again.

Scientists aren't quite ready to do that. But they are reporting early success at transforming one kind of specialized cell directly into another kind, a feat of biological alchemy that doctors may one day perform inside a patient's body.

"I think everyone believes this is really the future of so-called stem-cell biology," says John Gearhart of the University of Pennsylvania, one of many researchers pursuing this approach.

The concept is two steps beyond the familiar story of embryonic stem cells, versatile entities that can be coaxed to become cells of all types, like brain and blood. Scientists are learning to guide those transformations, which someday may provide transplant tissue for treating diseases like Parkinson's or diabetes.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101129/ap_on_sc/us_sci_cell_id_switch

This science will get massive government funding and will come into widespread use when it can turn "gay cells" into "straight cells" :wtf: