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Chemical Treatment Transforms Skin Cells Into Neurons

Posted by samzenpus on from the from-one-thing-to-another dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Two teams of researchers have independently succeeded in turning skin cells into neurons using a chemical cocktail. One group used human cells from healthy individuals and Alzheimer's patients, and the other used cells from mice. Sciencemag reports: "Molecular and cell biologists say the technique could become an important player in personalized medicine, specifically in using a patient's own cells to develop therapies for their disease or even to provide a source of transplantable cells for treatment."

10 of 25 comments (clear)

  1. web of trust by Pseudonymous+Powers · · Score: 1

    As a layman, I find it hard to know how much faith I should have in these claims, given that an almost identical claim made in recent years was touted widely in the news media and then turned out to be falsified.

    1. Re: web of trust by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      There will soon be a correction in the news that the teams actually succeeded in converting all their brain cells into skin cells.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
  2. skin has been used for cartilage replacement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Oskar Koneczny in Germany had done cartilage replacement for years in Germany using the patients own skin. His book "Die Koriumplastik in der Gelenk-und Extremitatenchirurgie" describes the procedure in some detail. Unfortunately, no one in this country seems to have picked up on this.

  3. Re:Apply to penis by Aaden42 · · Score: 2

    You jest, but it would be nice if the folks at Foregen (foregen.org) started examining techniques like this.

  4. That sounds really painful... raw nerves. by GungaDan · · Score: 1

    All I can picture in my head right now is the ATHF episode where Carl's skin gets transformed into eyeballs. Whole new meaning to "Ow! My Balls!" there.

    --
    Eloi are stupid, throw morlocks at them!
  5. Re:Or for Republicans,... by bondsbw · · Score: 1

    After last night's Republican debates, I'm thinking Trump won't be running against her.

    I was actually kind of impressed... it wasn't nearly the clown show I was expecting.

    --
    All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
  6. Excellent by puddingebola · · Score: 2

    Now I will be able to turn my entire epidermis into neurons increasing my thought capacity by a factor of 12. However, I may start to hallucinate when I put on sunscreen.

  7. Re:Or for Republicans,... by danbert8 · · Score: 1

    In the words of the wise Yoda, "And that is why you fail."

    --
    Yes it's an anecdote! Were you expecting original research in a Slashdot comment?
  8. 2 words: Suh - Weet! by Snotnose · · Score: 1

    Now I can put all that extra skin around my gut to good use! Us fatties will be the smartest people in the room. Bwahahaha!!!!

  9. Re:Perfect Cell by davester666 · · Score: 1

    hey, that's my brain you are touching!

    --
    Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!