Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore called induced pluripotent stem...

Introduction to Nuclear Reprogramming

Introduction to Nuclear Reprogramming

Nuclear reprogramming is the process of switching gene expression of one cell type to that of another cell type, usually from a differentiated cell state to an undifferentiated cell state. Differentiation occurs during processes such as development and morphogenesis, tissue regeneration, and malignancy. Cells can also be artificially induced to reprogram their gene expression by techniques such as nuclear transfer, induced pluripotency, and cell fusion. Such techniques have many applications in...

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...

Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming

Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming

Reprogramming alters the gene expression in somatic cells, transforming them into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells over several generations. Scientists can reprogram cells by introducing genes for four transcription factors—Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) by viral or non-viral methods. These factors are also known as Yamanaka factors after Shinya Yamanaka, who first generated iPS cells using mouse skin cells. Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012 for this...

Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells

Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells

Chromatin modification alters gene expression; therefore, scientists can add histone-modifying enzymes, histone variants, and chromatin remodeling complexes to somatic cells to aid reprogramming into pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...

Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming

Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming

Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for injury repair.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Human stem cell-based embryo models: innovation, ethics, and policy.

Human reproduction (Oxford, England)·2026

Same author

Enhancing rigor and reproducibility: Implementing STAR Methods and the ISSCR Standards Checklist at Stem Cell Reports.

Stem cell reports·2026

Same author

Stem cell-based embryo models: The 2021 ISSCR stem cell guidelines revisited.

Stem cell reports·2025

Same author

Author Correction: A comprehensive human embryo reference tool using single-cell RNA-sequencing data.

Nature methods·2025

Same author

Editorial.

Stem cell reports·2025

Same author

A comprehensive human embryo reference tool using single-cell RNA-sequencing data.

Nature methods·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

The Production of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Amniotic Fluid Cells Using a Transposon System

The Production of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Amniotic Fluid Cells Using a Transposon System

Published on: February 28, 2017

Reprogramming to pluripotency: from frogs to stem cells.

Janet Rossant¹

¹Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. janet.rossant@sickkids.ca

|September 22, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka won the Lasker Award for discovering how to reprogram adult cells into embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough in cellular reprogramming has profound implications for regenerative medicine.

More Related Videos

Reprogramming Primary Amniotic Fluid and Membrane Cells to Pluripotency in Xeno-free Conditions

Reprogramming Primary Amniotic Fluid and Membrane Cells to Pluripotency in Xeno-free Conditions

Published on: November 27, 2017

Reprogramming Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines from Frozen Buffy Coat Samples

Reprogramming Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines from Frozen Buffy Coat Samples

Published on: April 10, 2026

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

The Production of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Amniotic Fluid Cells Using a Transposon System

The Production of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Amniotic Fluid Cells Using a Transposon System

Published on: February 28, 2017

Reprogramming Primary Amniotic Fluid and Membrane Cells to Pluripotency in Xeno-free Conditions

Reprogramming Primary Amniotic Fluid and Membrane Cells to Pluripotency in Xeno-free Conditions

Published on: November 27, 2017

Reprogramming Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines from Frozen Buffy Coat Samples

Reprogramming Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines from Frozen Buffy Coat Samples

Published on: April 10, 2026

Area of Science:

Cellular biology
Developmental biology
Stem cell research

Background:

Adult cells are specialized and typically cannot revert to an earlier developmental stage.
Understanding the mechanisms that control cell differentiation is crucial for medical advancements.

Discussion:

The work by Gurdon and Yamanaka demonstrates that cell fate is not irreversibly fixed.
Their research provides a foundation for understanding cellular plasticity and differentiation.

Key Insights:

Discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) through reprogramming.
Identification of key factors necessary for cellular reprogramming.

Outlook:

Potential for regenerative medicine and disease modeling.
Further research into the mechanisms and applications of cellular reprogramming.