Research from the Babraham Institute has developed a method to ‘time jump’ human skin
Research from the Babraham Institute has developed a method to ‘time jump’ human skin
cells by 30 years, turning back the ageing clock for cells without losing their specialised function.
Work by researchers in the Institute’s Epigenetics research programme has
been able to partly restore the function of older cells, as well as rejuvenating the
molecular measures of biological age. The research is published today in the journal eLife
and whilst at an early stage of exploration, it could revolutionise regenerative medicine.
What is regenerative medicine?
As we age, our cells’ ability to function declines and the genome accumulates marks of ageing. Regenerative biology aims to repair
or replace cells including old ones. One of the most important tools in regenerative biology is our ability to create ‘induced’ stem
cells. The process is a result of several steps, each erasing some of the marks that make cells specialised.