Stem cell research is a hot topic for research, and it's of no surprise that the Doc who cloned Dolly, the sheep, is in town. The process of differentiation in stem cells is a much focused topic of study amongst stem cell researchers as they strive to unlock the key to produce functional differentiated cells (Stem cells journal).
Coming from a cancer research background, one popular experimental technique that is being used to identify tumor suppressors on chromosomes is the microcell-mediated chromosome transfer technique, which involves the transfer of chromosomes from a non-tumor cell-line to tumor cell-lines followed by the examination of their role in tumor suppression (Oshimura et al, 1989).
Perhaps the same can be done in stem cell research. Microcell containing chromosome(s) of a differentiated cell can be fused with a stem cell, and genes responsible for the process of differentiation can be identified. Conversely microcells containing chromosome(s )of a stem cell can be fused with a differentiated cell so that the process of reprogramming and undifferentiation can be studied, with the genes responsible for the process being identified.
Disclaimer: This post is not meant for religious junkies, anti-Stem cell research lobbyist, anti-technology activists..................
Citations
1) Sanford JA, Stubblefield E. General protocol for microcell-mediated chromosome transfer. Somat Cell Mol Genet. 1987 May;13(3):279-84.
2) http://stemcells.alphamedpress.org/current.shtml
3) Oshimura M, Kugoh HM, Shimizu M, Yamada H, Hashiba H, Horikawa I, Sasaki M. Multiple chromosomes carrying tumor suppressor activity, via microcell-mediated chromosome transfer, for various tumor cell lines. Princess Takamatsu Symp. 1989;20:249-57.
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