Word: geneses
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In 2006, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka first induced stem cells from adult mouse fibroblasts—cells most commonly found in connective tissue—by using viruses to insert four genes into the fibroblasts. These genes worked to reprogram the cells into pluripotent stem cells.
But two of these genes and the viral vectors used in the process can cause cancer, so this system is not ideal for clinical use.
The Harvard study, published in last week’s issue of the journal Cell, identified small molecules that can eliminate the need to use two of the four genes,
With the aid of a $4.5 million federal grant, Harvard Medical School and two affiliates are embarking on a project to sequence the genes of 85 patients suffering from autism in the hopes of better understanding the causes of the mysterious disorder.
No clear cause of autism has yet been discovered, and though past research has suggested genetic causes, only a dozen genes have been linked to the disorder.