Researchers said Tuesday they have succeeded in generating platelets, a component of blood involved in clotting, from induced pluripotent stem cells.
It is the first time in the world that platelets have been generated from human stem cells, according to a group led by University of Tokyo professor Hiromitsu Nakauchi.
Platelets are collected through blood donations, so the group's research could provide an alternative source if the safety of the technique is confirmed and can be replicated on a mass scale.