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The editors of Nature have retracted publication of the original article on which this review is based.
In 2007, researchers created the first induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. This labor-intensive technique allowed for construction of genetically identical embryonic-like stem cells for any person — without ever having to produce and destroy an embryo (NEJM JW Gen Med Dec 29 2008). As originally developed, the technique required introduction of a small number of genes into a differentiated adult cell (a fibroblast from a skin biopsy). This process was inefficient, and the altered cells were hypothesized to have malignant potential. Subsequently, modifications to the technique have lowered malignancy risk and increased efficiency gre…