Stem Cells have Help to Renew Themselves

Source: Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Biomedicine
Date: December 13, 2006

Summary:

A small molecule makes stem cells able to reproduce and change. This simply structured moecule called SC1, which researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine in Münster and their colleagues from California have discovered, encourages stem cells in the laboratory to renew themselves. As a result, the stem cells retain the ability to develop into many different types of cells. Up to now, keeping the cells pluripotent has only been possible with a great deal of effort.