The biggest biomedical breakthrough of 2007 was the transformation of adult skin cells into the equivalent of embryonic stem cells by adding only four genes. Dr. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University ignited this revolution first by himself using mice cells, then later in the year in competing papers with Dr. James Thomson of University of Wisconsin in human cells.
Until these results, embryonic stem cells – which have the potential to become any cell in the body – could only be generated by destroying either eggs or embryos. The research holds the promise of eliminating the ethical minefield that has so hampered what many scientists see as the great potential for stem cells to treat all sorts of diseases, including Parkinson’s, diabetes and spinal cord injury.