Succeeded in producing stem cells capable of becoming "yolk sac" Chiba University, etc.

Groups such as Chiba University have announced that they have succeeded in producing special stem cells using fertilized mouse eggs.

It is attracting attention as it is useful for research to explore the mechanism by which life is born because it can be transformed into important cells in fertilized eggs, which could not be made with conventional technology.

This research was published in the scientific journal "Science" by a group such as Professor Yasuhide Ohinata of Chiba University and RIKEN.

After the fertilized egg begins to divide, it changes into three types: cells that become the body, cells that become the placenta, and cells that become the tissue called "yolk sac". Of these, only "yolk sac" is this. It could not be created with the technology up to.

The group named the fertilized mouse egg "PrES (press) cell" because it succeeded in producing a new stem cell capable of forming a yolk sac by performing a special treatment.

When these stem cells were injected into fertilized eggs of mice that could not produce yolk and raised, normal child mice were born.

Also, when this stem cell was mixed with another cell to bring it closer to the actual fertilized egg, there were signs that some of them were implanted and grew, but they did not grow any further. ..

Lecturer Ohinata says, "I was able to fill in the last piece of life. I hope that it will lead to the elucidation of the mechanism by which life is created from a simple organization."