title: iPS cells forgive but do not forget.
abstract: Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells offer the possibility to generate patient-specific cell types for use in regenerative medicine. However, a long-lasting question remains: are iPS and embryonic stem cells equivalent? iPS cells retain a transcriptional memory of their origin, which is now shown to endure with passages and to correlate with defects in the re-establishment of DNA methylation. Both selective pressure and genomic environment may account for these defects.
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Barrero
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Izpisua Belmonte
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic