Is aging just the accumulation of damage over time or is it a program that goes wrong? Using Yamanaka transcription factors, geneticists are able to reverse the aging program and take an adult cell back to a stem cell. This method of cell rejuvenation may change the way we treat disease and injury in the future.

In his recent research, Dr. Church has identified that the genes alpha-Klotho, FGF21, and TGF-beta1 can be used to rejuvenate older mice back to a healthier state. Next, Dr. Church plans to investigate the safety and efficacy of these factors in dogs, as they are large mammals like us and share our environment. Eventually, these animal models will inform how we use this cell therapy to reverse aging in humans. In this clip, Dr. George Church discusses how aging might be reversed and what research in animals can tell us about human aging.