‘Young’ stem cells identified in old mice using a new approach

A collaborative study involving researchers from Lund Stem Cell Center (Sweden) and University College London (UK) has identified a novel method of isolating ‘young’ stem cells present in old mice. Their research demonstrates that activity of mitochondria may be a stronger indicator of stem cell fitness than age. The research, which has been published in Cell Stem Cell, compared the mitochondrial activity of stem cells from old and young mice by looking at mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The investigators reported that although they observed a general decrease in mitochondrial activity of stem cells with age, they did discover a small...