Scientists hope to change medicine for the better through creating artificial cells. For example, artificial cells could be used to help heal injured or diseased body organs. Studies on artificial cells are now surging forward in Japan. But how are they made? And what defines a cell in the first place? How similar do artificial and natural cell have to be to be considered living cells? Though there are still huge challenges ahead, scientists are striving to understand the very essence of life!

Scientists hope to change medicine for the better through creating artificial cells. For example, artificial cells could be used to help heal injured or diseased body organs. Studies on artificial cells are now surging forward in Japan. But how are they made? And what defines a cell in the first place? How similar do artificial and natural cell have to be to be considered living cells? Though there are still huge challenges ahead, scientists are striving to understand the very essence of life!

iPS cells are created from normal human skin cells. They possess the same potential as fertilized eggs cells, meaning they can be developed into any kind of cell in the human body. It was 5 years ago when the successful creation of the first iPS cells was announced. At first, practical application of this revolutionary new technology was thought to be 10 to 20 years away. How far has iPS cell technology come since then? How close is clinical application? What obstacles have been overcome? We talk at length in the studio with the father of iPS cells Dr. Shinya Yamanaka. Dr. Yamanaka is currently the director of the Kyoto University Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) and also the Japanese scientist considered closest to winning the Nobel Prize. He talks about his resolve, how his research has far exceeded his expectations, and how he was affected by what a patient's mother told him. Tune in!