JERUSALEM, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Scientists in Israel and Scotland have made a breakthrough in understanding how cells become specialized, according to a statement released Monday by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU).

A new study, published in the journal Nature, reveals how proteins called transcription factors (TFs) determine a cell's identity -- whether it becomes a skin cell, muscle cell, or neuron, for example. TFs do this by attaching to specific parts of DNA and controlling which genes are active.

The researchers discovered a "guided search" system where DNA and chromatin (the structure that packages DNA) act like a map, guiding the TFs to their correct locations on the DNA.

This discovery sheds light on how cells develop and how proteins and DNA work together to create different cell types. HU says this knowledge could be important for regenerative medicine and cell therapy, helping scientists control how cells grow and function. It also provides a new way to study how genes are regulated. ■