Is "Bullocho" Already a Reality? "From Lifespan Extension to Muscle Regeneration"

Won Jong-woo, CEO of Science and People, Explains Yamanika Factor
"Created Eggs from Skin Cells to Give Birth"
"Application to Humans and Commercialization Within 20-30 Years"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "(The story of the elixir of life) is not theoretical but is actually being proven."

Won Jong-woo, CEO of 'Science and People,' said this on the 21st during an interview with broadcaster Kim Eo-jun on the show 'Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Difficult News Factory.' He explained the current status of rejuvenation science, stating that the legend of the elixir of life, which means eternal life, is already becoming a reality. Won's claim is based on the discovery of the Yamanaka factors by Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, Japan, in 2012.

Won said, "Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University discovered something called the Yamanaka factors in 2012 and created induced pluripotent stem cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells," adding, "he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, so this is now perfectly proven science."

Won Jong-woo, CEO of Science and People, appeared on Kim Eo-jun's Humility Is Difficult News Factory (photo right).
[Photo source=Screenshot from Kim Eo-jun's Humility Is Difficult News Factory broadcast]

Won explained, "They took skin cells and introduced the Yamanaka factors to reverse the differentiation, meaning they reverted the cells back to their original state. So they created stem cells. In reverse," adding, "the cells created this way are induced pluripotent stem cells."

Won said, "What did they do with mouse skin cells? They made eggs. They made eggs and had offspring," adding, "in 2007, they also reprogrammed human adult cells into pluripotent stem cells. But they didn't create anything further with those because it raises complex issues."

He explained that due to ethical concerns related to humans, further progress was halted, but the technology has reached a considerable level. Won said, "Because we have the power to revert cells back to stem cells and then create organs or anything else, we can rejuvenate the cells in our bodies," adding, "In my view, this will be commercialized and applied to humans within 20 to 30 years."

However, various issues may arise during the application to humans, and there are concerns in the academic community that it could induce cancer.

Won explained, "Basically, cancer is when cells should stop proliferating but continue to do so," adding, "Cancer is actually a problem of my own cells growing too well." However, Won said, "those currently conducting experiments report that such phenomena did not occur in their mouse experiments," adding, "research has continued from the perspective that resetting cells not only extends lifespan but also rejuvenates."

Won Jong-woo, CEO of Science and People, appeared on "Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Difficult News Factory" on the 21st to explain the principle of induced pluripotent stem cells.
[Photo by Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Difficult News Factory broadcast screen capture]

Won added, "We have already succeeded in extending the lifespan of mice and regenerating muscles in collaboration with a bioengineering company."

He said that in mouse experiments, it is artificially possible to age them, make them young again, and then age them once more.

Won said, "Currently, not only making them young but also aging and then pulling them back to youth and aging again is already possible in mice," adding, "We want to conduct experiments on primates and then apply this to humans."

If it becomes a reality to make humans young or old by human intervention, theoretically, controlling life through money and power would also become possible. This could pose new challenges for humanity, and controversies are expected to continue during the commercialization process of this scientific technology.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.