Sure, many people realize that our skin protects our bodies, repels bacteria, and enables us to sweat and maintain adequate body temperature, and of course 'holds everything together'. However, many people still don't quite understand that skin cells contain four basic genes that are necessary to reprogram a specific human cell to carry the essential characteristics of an embryonic stem cell. What does this mean?

It means that until now, research and development into the treatment of a variety of disease processes has relied heavily on the use of embryonic stem cells. This process is extremely controversial in most countries around the world based on religious and moral beliefs and attitudes. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, which means that they have the potential to develop into over 200 different types of cells within the human body.

This is important because such cells can be used to develop and create new tissues to repair those injured through damage or disease. Still, scientific research and breakthroughs have determined that human skin cells can be reprogrammed to behave identically like embryonic stem cells. Using adult skin cells to morph or develop into other types of cellular tissues will now be collected from a patient's own skin. In addition, doing so will help reduce rejection of new tissues introduced into that patient's body.

Yes, our skin is important, but now, our skin also has the potential to cure a multitude of genetic disease processes.