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What are Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells? (iPSC)

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) are cells that mimic the function of embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are cells that are yet to be differentiated. These cells can be specialized into any cell type and be used to cure or treat life-threatening conditions. However, ESC can only be obtained through the destruction of embryos or through umbilical cord blood. This causes many moral and ethical conflicts while iPSC can achieve the same job, without the conflicts.

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Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Learn about the future of regenerative medicine and the science behind it.

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What Makes These Cells Important?

Due to their incredible ability to develop into any tissue, stem cells are extremely useful in treating diseases such as diabetes and leukemia. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells are also easier to obtain than embryonic stem cells and do NOT require the destruction of an embryo. Additionally, these stem cells are genetically identical to any patient, ensuring that the tissue will not be rejected by the patient's immune system. Scientists also hope to further their understanding of many diseases such as muscle dystrophy and myriad by using stem cells to track disease-causing events in cells.

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Timeline

How Were iPSC Discovered?

Through many accidents, experiments, and hard work, scientists have successfully created a stem cell that does NOT require the destruction of an embryo or the umbilical cord. Many years of work and research were required to discover this medical miracle. Want to see more about the history of iPSC? Click on the picture above for a timeline of events leading up to the creation of iPSC!

Challenges iPSCs Face

While iPSCs may seem like the perfect alternative to the embryonic stem cells, there are still many problems that scientists must face. For example, the viruses used to create the iPSCs occasionally cause unpredictable problems and mutations to occur in the cells. Additionally, iPSC are very similar to, but not exactly identical to their embryonic counterparts.