How scientists turned skin cells into heart, brain cells

IN a major step in regenerative medicine, scientists in the US turned skin cells into heart and brain cells by using a cocktail of chemicals. The two studies, which were published in Science and Cell Stem Cell journals, are especially remarkable as the scientists did not add any external genes to the cells, a usual requirement.

The research could be the basis for one day being able to regenerate lost or damaged cells with pharmaceutical drugs. The team of scientists used chemical cocktails to force skin cells to convert into organ-specific stem cell-like cells and, finally, into heart or brain cells.