Scientists turn skin cells into beating heart muscle

Let us see how it works out. My question is; if your cells are programmed, is not your entire life programmed?

@almxx Don't fret now, there's no need for philosophy to butt into microbiology, here. DNA, and how DNA influences cell division, possesses no concrete determinism-- unless you think it was destiny for you to become a human, and not a frog.

Once this kind of thing becomes more commonplace, they're going to want to deal with undamaged cells.

From the day you're conceived, every time your cells divide, the "caps" of junk DNA at the at the end of each strand are damaged. As you age, that "junk" DNA (called "telemerese", I believe) gets shorter and shorter until DNA that is actually important for the cellular function is damaged. These cells the scientists are working with now already have a ton of telemerese damage, shortening their life.

I see a time in the near future where parents are going to be encouraged to save the umbilical cords for the "young" cells it contains. They can be stored in a manner that doesn't damage the DNA and 50/60 years later that child can use the "fresh" DNA in their new organ(s). (Wow, that would mean skin could go back to no wrinkles too!)