Bird, Fish, and Fly Cells Reprogrammed (The Scientist)

The ability to reprogram differentiated cells toward pluripotency has been a remarkable achievement, though its application has mostly been limited to mammals. Researchers published in eLifethis week (September 3) evidence of induced pluripotency in cells from the non-mammalian model organisms zebra finch, chicken, zebrafish, and Drosophila. While the study’s authors cautioned that these cells were only partially reprogrammed, and therefore not induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), lead author Ricardo Rossello said that “they have a slew of phenotypic characteristics of stem cells.”

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