transdifferentiation
Lineage switching process
Transdifferentiation is when a mature cell of one type converts directly into a mature cell of another type without reverting to a stem cell first.
A liver cell might become a pancreatic cell, or a skin cell might become a nerve cell.
The process occurs naturally in some organisms—salamanders regenerating limbs—and is being explored in regenerative medicine as a way to produce needed cell types: Researchers achieved transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes.
Descent from progenitors
- reprogrammingAltering original functional instructions
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
- fibroblastsCollagen-producing connective tissue cells
- osteoblastsBone-synthesizing cells
neurons · adipocytes · macrophages · astrocytes · plasticity
Heritable expression changes, sequence intact
- chromatinNuclear protein-wrapped genetic material
- histoneChromosome-packing protein
- methylationAttaching a methyl group
- acetylationAcetyl group attachment
Embryonic tissue becoming structures
- biomedicineBiology applied to healing
- neurogenesisNew nerve cell formation
- angiogenesisFormation of new vessels
- scaffoldsTemporary elevated work platforms
lineage
Descent from progenitors
- reprogrammingAltering original functional instructions
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
- fibroblastsCollagen-producing connective tissue cells
osteoblasts · neurons · adipocytes · macrophages · astrocytes · plasticity
epigenetics
Heritable expression changes, sequence intact
- chromatinNuclear protein-wrapped genetic material
- histoneChromosome-packing protein
- methylationAttaching a methyl group
organogenesis
Embryonic tissue becoming structures
- biomedicineBiology applied to healing
- neurogenesisNew nerve cell formation
- angiogenesisFormation of new vessels
morphogenesis
Developmental shape emergence
- embryogenesisFormation of early life
- cellscells, blood cell, cell theory, nerve cell, red blood cell
- regenerationregeneration, healing, renewal, rebirth, revival
- stem cellsstem cells, stem cell, embryonic stem cell, embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells