where is the stem cell located

researchers are calling it a major scientificbreakthrough: they have discovered a way to create stem cells by converting adult cellsback to their younger state. in the journal nature, scientists from japanand harvard university explain that they conducted their research on mice. they used a programcalled stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency, or stap, which exposes the cells to acid.through real-time imagery, they realized the stap cells reprogram and "showed a substantialdecrease in dna methylation." the stap cells are capable of turning intojust about any cell in the body from skin to lungs. nbc reports the researchers createda mouse embryo heart completely out of the cells.

a researcher not involved in the study toldlivescience, "if the findings are replicated, 'this result has the potential to be verysignificant.'" but just how significant? anchor: "do we dare to start talking aboutthis as some kind of game changer?" medical correspondent: "yes, i think that'sright. ... now we have this simple, simple process. just dipping them in acid, we convertthem back again to this embryonic stem cell very quickly, very cheaply. yep, it is a gamechanger." (via bbc) researchers also discovered squeezing or puncturingthe cells can have a similar effect. stem cell research has been a topic of controversyin the past because some of it requires taking the cells from human embryos, but this newfinding seems to be a way around that. (via

news medical) however, one researcher points out:​ "itis going to be a while before the nature of these cells are understood, and whether theymight prove to be useful for developing therapies, but the really intriguing thing to discoverwill be the mechanism underlying how a low ph shock triggers reprogramming - and whyit does not happen when we eat lemon or vinegar or drink cola?" (via bbc) but this isn't the only stem-cell discoverymaking news wednesday. "researchers at the university of pennsylvaniasay they were able to convert one type of adult stem cells into the type of stem cellsfound on tissue that covers the body. so study

authors say those cells have many potentialapplications, including regrowing hair." (via wfxt) this most recent study poses questions aboutwhether the findings can be helpful for humans, as only cells from mice were observed.