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Updated: May 5, 2026

Differentiation of the SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cell Line
Published on: February 17, 2016
Cellular dedifferentiation. Revisiting Betty Hay's legacy
Alejandra Beltrán-Rivera1, José E García-Arrarás1
1Biology Department, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, PR, USA.
Abstract:
The concept of mature specialized cells and the stability of the differentiated state was fundamentally challenged by Elizabeth Hay's groundbreaking observations on amphibian limb regeneration, published in 1959. Building on previous work by C.S. Thornton, she discovered that muscle cells could dedifferentiate and transform into progenitor cells within the regeneration blastema reshaping our understanding of cell differentiation. This pivotal finding reshaped our understanding of cell differentiation, opening new avenues of research. Though controversial, her findings significantly advanced the fields of cell plasticity and regenerative biology.
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