Science Transforms Liver Cells into Neurons

A new technique inches toward creating new organs out of other kinds of tissue.

Researchers at Stanford University's medical school have for the first time transformed liver cells into neurons, opening the door to potential new therapies that could help regenerate cells in vital organs. The team simply added three genes to liver cells taken from mice, which turned them into neural cells with no trace of their previous existence as liver cells. These "transdifferentiated" cells are a ways away from being tested on humans, partly because there are concerns that there's a chance these cells could contain traces of their previous identities and potentially revert to their previous form. Having neurons turn back into liver or skin cells would not have positive consequences for the humans carrying them, but at the very least the researchers say the breakthrough will help them understand cellular development in greater depth than ever before.