How are induced pluripotent stem cells generated?

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are a type of pluripotent stem cells derived from mature adult cells that have regained the ability to differentiate into other types of cells in the body. iPS cells are generated in the lab by reprogramming adult blood or skin cells into an embryonic-like pluripotent state.  This essentially turns back the clock on adult cells and enables them to regain the ability to differentiate into any type of human cell needed for therapeutic purposes. Generating iPS cells is a significant advancement in regenerative medicine as it makes it possible to develop an unlimited source of any type of human cell for the purpose of patient-specific cell therapies.