Fluke stem cell finding

Researchers in China have devised a new technique for reprogramming cells from human urine into stem cells that can form multiple types of functioning neurons and glial cells. The technique is expected to be adopted in clinical treatment.

The technique, published on Sunday in the journal Nature Methods, could prove useful for studying the cellular mechanisms of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

"This is a surprise in our research. We were expecting multi-function stem cells but got immature brain cells," Pei Duanqing, one of the leading researchers, told Xinhua, adding that those cells will play a great part in future clinical treatment.