Biologists have learned how to rejuvenate cells for 30 years
With every year of life, the functionality of our body's cells decreases. This is due to the fact that traces of aging are gradually accumulating in the genome. There are sciences that deal with the problem of slowing down this process and even its reversibility. This is regenerative biology and medicine. With their help, scientists create stem, "young" cells that do not yet have specialization. Theoretically, they can turn into any cells, but science cannot yet precisely control this process. But it seems that they have found a way to restore youth to the cells.
An amazing discovery was made by biologists from the British Abraham University. They managed to develop a method of reprogramming cells that rejuvenates them. At the same time, another important goal has been achieved — rejuvenated cells fully retain their functions.
This important discovery was preceded by another, without which nothing would have happened. In 2007, the scientist Shinya Yamanaka managed to reverse time and the laws of nature. He rejuvenated the cells so that they turned back into stem cells. The process was not fast and took more than 50 days.
A new discovery of reproductive biologists is that they rejuvenate skin cells in just 13 days. At the same time, they retain their functionality, and do not turn into indefinite stem cells, as in Yamanaki. All indicators of the cells participating in the experiment were recorded before and after it.
It turned out that after 13 days of reprogramming, the cells were 30 years younger. They began to intensively produce collagen. This contributed to a better healing of the damage. A nice bonus turned out to be that in parallel there is a positive effect on some genes.
These are mainly genes that cause dangerous age-related diseases. Among them are the APBA2 gene, associated with Alzheimer's disease, and the MAF gene, which contributes to the development of cataracts. Scientists believe that the technology of programming old cells may hide the victory over these ailments.
Unfortunately, in the near future humanity will not be able to take advantage of the discovery and begin rejuvenation. The processes taking place inside the cells are not fully understood and it may take years until this happens. But the beginning has already been made and the prospects for the method are quite realistic. Well, while biologists and doctors are conjuring over the genome, people are trying to regain their youth with the help of dubious procedures.