Editing Transdifferentiation (section)

==Differences with pluripotent reprogramming==
*Almost all factors that reprogram cells into pluripotency have been discovered and can turn a wide variety of cells back into [[induced pluripotent stem cells|induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)]]. However, many of the reprogramming factors that can change a cell's lineage have not been discovered and these factors apply only for that specific lineage.<ref name="pmid18940730">{{Cite journal 
| last1 = Zhou | first1 = Q. 
| last2 = Melton | first2 = D. A. 
| doi = 10.1016/j.stem.2008.09.015 
| title = Extreme Makeover: Converting One Cell into Another 
| journal = Cell Stem Cell 
| volume = 3 
| issue = 4 
| pages = 382–388 
| year = 2008 
| pmid = 18940730 
| doi-access = free 
}}</ref>
*The final products of transdifferentiated cells are capable of being used for clinical studies, but iPSCs must be differentiated.<ref name="pmid18940730"/>
*It may become possible in the future to use transdifferentiation in vivo, whereas pluripotent reprogramming may cause teratomas in vivo.<ref name="pmid18940730"/>
*Transdifferentiated cells will require less epigenetic marks to be reset, whereas pluripotent reprogramming requires nearly all to be removed, which may become an issue during redifferentiation.<ref name="pmid18940730"/>
*Transdifferentiation is geared towards moving between similar lineages, whereas pluripotent reprogramming has unlimited potential.<ref name="pmid18940730"/>
*Pluripotent cells are capable of self-renewal and often go through many cell passages, which increases the chance of accumulating mutations. Cell culture may also favor cells that are adapted for surviving under those conditions, as opposed to inside an organism. Transdifferentiation requires fewer cell passages and would reduce the chance of mutations.<ref name="pmid18940730"/>
*Transdifferentiation can also be much more efficient than pluripotency reprogramming due to the extra step involved in the latter process.<ref>{{Cite journal 
| last1 = Passier | first1 = R. 
| last2 = Mummery | first2 = C. 
| doi = 10.1016/j.stem.2010.07.004 
| title = Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Direct Reprogramming to Cardiomyocytes 
| journal = Cell Stem Cell 
| volume = 7 
| issue = 2 
| pages = 139–141 
| year = 2010 
| pmid = 20682439 
| doi-access = free 
}}</ref>
*Both pluripotent and transdifferentiated cells use adult cells, thus starting cells are very accessible, whereas human embryonic stem cells require that one navigate legal loopholes and delve into the morality of stem cell research debate.