All articles tagged with #stemcells
A study suggests that human stem cells age more rapidly in space due to microgravity and radiation, but some damage may be reversible, providing insights for protecting astronauts and understanding aging on Earth.
Scientists have successfully created a living mouse using stem cells reprogrammed with ancient genes from choanoflagellates, unicellular organisms predating multicellular animals. This breakthrough demonstrates that pluripotency mechanisms existed before animals evolved, challenging previous assumptions about the origins of such genetic tools. The study, led by Ralf Jauch and Alex de Mendoza, highlights the potential of ancient genes in regenerative medicine and evolutionary biology, suggesting that these genetic tools could be harnessed for novel therapeutic strategies.
Scientists have successfully created mouse stem cells using genes from a single-celled organism, marking a significant breakthrough in understanding the evolutionary leap from unicellular to multicellular life. These stem cells were used to develop a living mouse, demonstrating the potential of molecular tools in evolutionary biology, as reported in Nature Communications.
Japanese researchers have discovered that a species of jellyfish, Cladonema, can regenerate a lost tentacle in just a few days by forming a blastema from stem-like proliferative cells that are different from the resident stem cells. These repair-specific cells contribute to the outer layer of the new tentacle and work alongside resident stem cells for rapid regeneration. The study, published in PLOS Biology, enhances the understanding of regenerative mechanisms in animals, which could potentially inform improvements in human regenerative medicine. However, the origins of these repair-specific cells are still unknown, highlighting the need for advanced genetic tools to trace and manipulate specific cell lineages in jellyfish.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo and Tohoku University have discovered how jellyfish regenerate their tentacles, a process that involves the formation of a blastema, similar to that in amphibians and other regenerating animals. The blastema is formed by proliferative cells that appear at the injury site and work in conjunction with localized stem cells to regrow the tentacle. This process in jellyfish, which are cnidarians with radial body symmetry, is surprisingly similar to that of bilaterian animals, which have bilateral symmetry. Understanding jellyfish regeneration could potentially inform future regenerative treatments in humans, although such applications are currently speculative.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have uncovered the cellular mechanisms that allow jellyfish to regenerate their tentacles. They found that jellyfish use repair-specific proliferative cells, similar to stem cells, to regrow their tentacles. These cells are different from the resident stem cells and only appear when the jellyfish is injured. This discovery not only sheds light on the regenerative abilities of jellyfish but also suggests a potential for convergent evolution with other regenerative species like salamanders. Understanding these mechanisms could have implications for improving human regenerative medicine. The study was published in PLOS Biology.