iPSCs (induced pluripotent stem cells)

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are specialized cells created by reprogramming adult cells, like skin or blood cells, back into a flexible, blank state capable of becoming any cell type in the body. This process involves adding specific factors that reset the cell's identity, allowing scientists to generate various tissues such as heart, nerve, or liver cells. iPSCs are valuable for medical research, drug testing, and potential regenerative therapies because they provide a patient-specific, ethically obtainable source of versatile cells without needing embryonic material.