Part 8/14:
One of the most cutting-edge ideas in longevity science is cellular reprogramming—resetting cells to an earlier, more youthful state. This concept originated from the work of Shinya Yamanaka, who discovered that introducing specific factors could revert mature cells back to pluripotent stem cells, or even embryonic-like states.
Experimental treatments in mice have shown that transient activation of these reprogramming factors can reverse cellular aging without causing tumor formation. The ultimate goal is to develop safe, practical interventions—possibly pills or gene therapies—that can rejuvenate the human body at the cellular level. Several biotech companies, notably Altos Labs backed by Jeff Bezos, are investing heavily in this frontier.