A little acid or a tight squeeze can turn a cell stemlike

Stresses send mouse cells into primordial state capable of making any tissue

TAILOR MADE  Stress can reprogram cells to become STAP cells (green), a new variety of stem cell that can become any type of cell. Researchers used these cells to grow an entire mouse fetus.  

H. Obokata

Editor’s Note: The research described in this article is the subject of a reported February 2014 investigation by RIKEN.