As per present research, the transformation of genetically manipulated cells into melanocytes, which are responsible for the production of skin pigment and essential to the body’s auditory system. This study, based on mouse models, which was done in a university in Israel.
Based upon all the previous studies on cell tells that, cells differentiate into different organs with varying functions like brain, liver, intestine, kidney etc. but in recent study for the first time shows that this process is not irreversible, i.e, one can turn back and transform a mature well organized cell which is with a definite function in the body can turn into a complete cell of different kind.
The applications of this are endless-from transplants, which would eliminate long waiting lists and eliminate the common problem of immune system rejection of ‘foreign’ organs; to maybe one day curing deafness: taking any cell in the body and transforming it into melanocytes to aid in the restoration of hearing. The possibilities are really beyond the scope of the imagination, yet the professors are continues.
Scientist were took cells from different parts of the mouse such as brain, intestine, heart. To activate the genetic switch “Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF)” placed these cells in a solution, MITF is a factor which is responsible for the production of melanocytes. By this method one skin cell is formed, which is the transformed stomach cell.
From this study, one can say that “all of our genes are in all our cells” but their genetic mechanism should be shown in a particular place, while they remain in latent phase elsewhere in the body. Each cell has a kind of switch like MITF, it is a switch to create melanocytes, so to transform particular cell into melanocytes, need to activate MITF present in that specific cell.
The generation of an entire genetically manipulated mouse is new and affords a scientific breakthrough that may save lives in the future. The further developments based on this method may enable the transformation of one tissue taken from the patient’s own body into another tissue to replace the damaged organ, for example. Curing hearing loss is also a promising direction for this research because melanocytes are essential to our auditory system.”