U.Va. scientists Bernard and Chris Thisse have created a zebrafish embryo by instructing stem cells. (Photo: University of Virginia School of Medicine)

According to Nature World News, University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers Bernard and Chris Thisse have turned embryonic stem cells into a fish embryo by manipulating certain biological signals. The study could advance organ re-generation using stem cells. Their research result was published in the journal Science.

Embryonic stem cells are cells obtained from the embryo. They are pluripotent cells, meaning that they can grow or differentiate into other kinds of cells that form the tissues and organs. Bernard and Chris Thisse said that they have overcome a major barrier in biology: tweaking some early signals can coax stem cells to form an embryo. In other words, they have come close to controlling the embryonic development. What's even more interesting is that they found that just two molecular signals were enough to start a cascade of molecular pathways that led to the development of the zebra fish embryo. Their research showed that "opposing gradients of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Nodal" are enough to kick-start the development of the embryo, according to an abstract. Both BMP and Nodal are morphogens, meaning that they control the pattern of tissue development. In the future, scientists might grow tissues, organs and even entire organisms using stem cells, Gizmodo reported.

The embryo developed in the current study was smaller than a regular zebra fish embryo. That's because researchers worked with a small set of stem cells, said Bernard Thisse of the Department of Cell Biology. Next, researchers will be working with mice to see if they can alter the molecular signaling and get stem cells to develop into mice embryo. According to the study team, the findings of the research might apply to higher mammals and even humans.