Rejuvenation takes place very early in embryonic development. The germline cells that go into the creation of an embryo are well protected and maintained in comparison to the average somatic cell in the adult body. Nonetheless, there is an accumulation of age-related epigenetic changes and molecular damage. Cells purge themselves of as much of this change and damage as possible, in order to ensure that the young are born with young somatic cells and tissues. This is primarily a resetting of epigenetic controls over gene expression, d…
Cellular Reprogramming, and the Goal of Separating Dedifferentiation from Epigenetic Rejuvenation
Rejuvenation takes place very early in embryonic development. The germline cells that go into the creation of an embryo are well protected and maintained in comparison to the average somatic cell in the adult body. Nonetheless, there is an accumulation of age-related epigenetic changes and molecular damage. Cells purge themselves of as much of this change and damage as possible, in order to ensure that the young are born with young somatic cells and tissues. This is primarily a resetting of epigenetic controls over gene expression, d…