title: Stress management: a new path to pluripotency.
abstract: Two recent papers in Nature describe a remarkable new technique for reprogramming somatic cells back to the embryonic state. Obokata et al. (2014a, 2014b) show that applying stressful stimuli can convert mature cells into progenitors capable of generating all three embryonic germ layer lineages, as well as placental tissue.
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Florey Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia. Electronic address: martin.pera@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Martin F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Pera
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming / Q000187:drug effects*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D000143:Acids