Controlling a Cell's "Destiny" is a Big Step Toward Growing Artificial Organs

     New research has led to a breakthrough in changing a cell's "destiny." Scientists have recently discovered that a cell signalling system called "Notch" signalling is responsible for determining a cell's "occupation" i.e. brain cell, heart cell, kidney cell, etc. By blocking the signalling system, the scientists were able to manipulate the cell's normal course of development. The cells became less committed to becoming what they were originally programmed to be, and in fact the scientists could "convince" the cells to become something else long after the period in which most cells have begun to specialize. The research involved tiny nematode worms called C. elegans, which are common model animals. Interestingly, blocking the Notch signals in the embryonic cells allowed cells later on to change their destiny, as if the cells "remembered" what happened to their ancestor.

     I thought this article was really interesting because it is an important step toward the development of artificial organs in the laboratory. If we can control a cell's destiny, we can grow any organ we need in a lab. My uncle was on a waiting list for a kidney donation, and fortunately he finally got it, but I know that many people die waiting for organs. It would be wonderful if these people did not have to worry about whether they will survive the waiting list, and we can just grow whatever they need in a lab.

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