Reprogramming of cells

The Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine was awarded to two scientists, one who discovered the process of cloning by nuclear transfer and the second for reprogramming of mature cells by gene insertions.

The pioneer scientist, John Gurdon who in 1962, first extracted the nucleus from a frog egg and replace it with a nucleus from a specialized tadpole cell. The resulting embryo grew into a tadpole which destroyed the idea that cells became specialised with no return. With this research, the process of cloning was born and over the next 40 years, various types of animals have been created from nuclear transplantations.  Dolly the sheep being one of the most famous examples was born in 1996 as the first cloned mammal.

Shinya Yamanaka was also awarded the award for his work in 2006, only 10 years after Dolly was born.  Dr Yamanaka discovered that only 4 genes were needed to provoke a mature cell to become an induced pluripotent stem cell, one that could then develop into any type of cell of the organism, given the correct signals.

This research is linked to the biology curriculum in Topic 2 Cells where stem cells are first introduced and the use of stem cells is to be outlined and then again in Topic 4.4 Genetic Engineering where students are to define cloning and discuss the arguments of therapeutic cloning of humans.

Students should be able to read this press release from the Nobel Prize organisation and relate their learning to the successes of these scientists. An advanced reading is within reach of motivated students.