These cells were also created using mouse cells, starting with mouse skin cells, and the comparison between what you get from a mouse cell that's transformed this way and an embryonic stem cell, they look to be very similar.

NPR: Scientists Create Embryonic Stem Cells from Skin

In related news, researcher Shinya Yamanaka in Japan has turned mouse skin cells into cells that are indistinguishable from the embryonic kind--meaning, that they can conceivably be turned into heart cells, liver cells or just about any other kind of cell scientists want to study or, eventually, use as a therapy.

FORBES: Stem Cell Science Heats Up

We tend to grip mice between the base of our thumb and pinky, but the Rat 9 isn't well designed for that -- we ended up pinching our skin in one of the mouse's seams where no amount of soft-touch plastic could save us from chafing on those delightfully rakish edges, something that could perhaps have been avoided with a little rubber instead.

ENGADGET: Exclusive: Mad Catz Cyborg Rat 9 review