Science View S2012E41 - The Genealogy of iPS Cells

Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University was awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for developing the first induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). On this week's Science View we bring you a special Nobel Prize episode in advance of the award ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 10.

On October 24, a press conference was held with Shinya Yamanaka and John Gurdon of Cambridge University who shares this year's prize. At the time, the 2 scientists were attending an international symposium in San Francisco. The symposium was the first time the 2 had seen each other since announcement of their Nobel Prize. This week's special episode focuses on footage from the press conference, while giving an overview of iPS cells technology.

In 1962, Dr. Gurdon successfully reprogrammed the adult cells from an African clawed frog. Then, nearly half a century later in 2007, Professor Yamanaka made the first iPS cells. How are these 2 discoveries related? iPS cell technology is nearly ready for clinical application. Shinya Yamanaka hopes to bring the benefits of iPS cell technology to patients with incurable diseases as soon as possible. John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka also share their views on the benefits and risks of clinical application. 

On May 25, 2012, we broadcasted an episode in which Shinya Yamanaka joined us in the studio. During his visit, he spoke in detail about just how close iPS cell technology was to clinical application as well as the hurdles that still exist. Then, on July 13 and September 29, we broadcasted conversation held between Shinya Yamanaka and Ian Wilmut of Edinburgh University, the scientist who made the cloned sheep, Dolly. In this conversation, both scientists shared their views about the ethics of science. We will also rebroadcast portions of this discussion. During a lecture in San Francisco Professor Yamanaka talked about 2 letters that hold special meaning to him. VW. But he's not referring to a car. To find out more, tune into Science View.