EXPLORE THE RI ADVENT CALENDAR: http://rigb.org.uk/advent The human body is made up of more than 200 different types of cell, and it used to be believed that once these cells have grown and differentiated (or specialised) into different types, that their fate is then fixed. In this video science presenter Simon Watt explains how we can re-shape the destiny of our cells by turning adult cells back into stem cells by manipulation of the c-Myc gene on chromosome 8. This discovery led to the award of the Nobel Prize in Medicine to Shinya Yamanaka in 2012. Using our greater understanding of this and related genes, stem cells can be used to make any cell we want. This could, in future, allow us to regrow or repair organs without danger of tissue rejection. With thanks to BBSRC: http://bbsrc.ac.uk/ Don't miss the 2013 CHRISTMAS LECTURES on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer: http://rigb.org/christmas-lectures The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: http://ri-science.tumblr.com/ Our editorial policy: http://www.rigb.org/home/editorial-policy Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter