The Rise and Fall of Stem Cell Research

Sometimes science surprises us with twists that we never could have predicted—and stem cell research is one of them! In this episode of SciShow, we'll dive into the development of iPSCs and what we've learned along the way!

Hosted by: Rose Bear Don't Walk (she/her)

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[LaughterOnWater]

This is why funding pure science research for the sake of discovery is important. Funding only the things that have potential commercial use is hampering our research methodology in ways we only begin to comprehend.

[fendoroid]

IPSCs also play a huge role in research. For example they are used to grow organoids from stem cells obtained from the patient's skin cells. Then, the organoids can be studied and compared to control organoids to possibly spot the genetic origin of a certain disease.

[CheeseWithMold]

Literally studying for a stem cell biology exam on Monday. I guess this is my sign to get back to studying.

Cool video!

[princeofexcess]

Yamanaka factors also lead to development of reversing the age of the cell to age 0 without turning it into a pluripotent stem cell. This means we can now reverse aging the problem is safety trials as well as a delivery system. we do not know how to deliver yamanaka factors into so many different types of cells. First human trials should be finished in 2 years (restoring sight to the blind) comment if you'd like to know more!

[ravvingar]

It's cool that I've been watching scishow for a decade, both in the classroom and in my adult life. The fun approach to topics is always refreshing. There's an object positivity that seems to cloud out the real world for a few brief minutes.

[ataraxia]

Really really hope we can grow new healthy tissue for living beings soon. The kind of he if it that could have for stroke victims and all other sorts of ailments would be unreal.

[rimigill]

Great video! One of the things you didn’t mention is although the iPSC themselves aren’t used for many approved therapies, there are many iPSC DERIVED cell therapies in the clinic and in trials such as immune cell transplants to treat cancer. These offer huge off the shelf potential even if it’s not the iPSC themselves but the differentiated cell lineage

[NECRO]

Would be nice to see this advance more in nerves and skin regeneration. Burnt my eyelids off years ago and still waitin to get new eyelids to progress towards getting my eyesight back.

[Megan-ntdm]

My lab has used iPSCs (and the cells we turn them into) from multiple sclerosis patients to try to figure out what's going wrong in the MS brain. Love seeing them be talked about more!

[alexswingle]

Great script writing for this video! Very easy to follow and great the information! Loved this video :)

[Samulolcats]

International treaties: "You can't use (>14 days old) embryos for research."
Scientists: "Fine, we'll use IPSC clones instead."

[nachoijp]

Slowly but surely we're making progress. It's hard to focus on the good things sometimes, but we do them and it's good to see it

[zatar]

This also has tie-ins to cancer researcher Given that cancer is basically just stem cells running amuck, and there is evidence that the same process that causes stem cells to specialize into a given cell type can cause cancer cells to revert back to being normal cells.

[thatchessguy]

What about the research which shows using 3/4ths of the yamanaka factors (very specific ones) to reverse aging without causing cancer?

[johntim]

Have they had any news on stem>germ/sperm cells yet? I remember following a doctor in California researching and developing this 10-15 years ago.

[deltacx]

Don't worry I'm just going to sit here with optic nerve damage for the next few decades until someone finally decides we actually need stem cell therapy.

[jeffbrinkerhoff]

Patrick Riordan's clinic in Panama has been treating patients with considerable success. Also there's a clinic in Boca Raton cultivating patients' stem cell.

[jakobburton-sundman]

That's how discoveries work. Not "I found it." But:"What the..?"

[dr.kenworthysbiologyinfo]

I teach biology and we cover iPSCs in class. Thanks for videos like this with updated information related to stuff in textbooks.

[DelfinaKS]

Great show. Fascinating insights into the unexpected applications of research and why we should never lose hope. Also, Rose Bear's voice is much more pleasing to listen to rather than the yelling of Hank Green!