Scientists in Spain have reverted living animal tissue back into an embryonic state for the first time, according to a study published in the scientific journal Nature.
The technique has already been used successfully in skin samples, but scientists at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre in Madrid were able to produce the same transformation in mice.
An egg that has just been fertilised has the ability to develop into every tissue in the human body.
Tumours
But the study showed that though tissues had regressed into an embryonic state, the lack of further control led to the development of tumours in the mice used.
Prof Chris Mason, a stem cell scientist at University College London, said that whilst the study was “very cool” it had “massive issues in terms of control.”
Prof Serrano said: “Of course this is not what we want for regenerative medicine.
“We want to turn back the clock in a controlled manner and this is something we have to work out in the future.
“We have to find conditions where we reprogramme only partially so that they acquire a plastic state and repair the tissue.”
Exciting
Professor Robin Ali, from the Institute of Ophthalmology in London commented: “This is a really elegant study with important implications for the field.
“It will be a monumental task to prove this is safe, as what you're doing is innately dangerous, but it is exciting as it's potentially a new strategy for regenerative medicine.”
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