"In recognition of that power, the researchers have named the gene
"nanog," a reference to the mythological Celtic land of Tir Nan Og,
whose fairy-like residents are said to stay forever young."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55817-2003May29.html
Neat. 
On another off-topic, but related note... we host another nanog site which is a bar here in NJ:
-Robert
Tellurian Networks - The Ultimate Internet Connection
http://www.tellurian.com | 888-TELLURIAN | 973-300-9211
"Good will, like a good name, is got by many actions, and lost by one." - Francis Jeffrey
"..is largely responsible for giving those cells their unique regenerative and therapeutic potential."
[Pull hair out, pull out the nearest bundle of Ethernet cable, see a therapist.. or read NANOG. Results guaranteed !]
"In doing so, the proteins precisely turn "on" and "off" other genes in that stretch of DNA..."
[Ooo !]
"..scientists have yet to identify the signal that tells nanog to turn on..."
[IP addressing discussions always raise my temperature a few degrees :)]
"In the current experiments, nanog activity was turned up or blocked with genetic techniques that so altered the cells as to make them unacceptable for use in humans..."
[Only those lacking the special NANOG cluebat]
"...once people have done a little of it, they want to do more."
[Aw yeah !]
Now back to your regularly scheduled discussions.
Can't help it. I like this part:
they have discovered a long-sought "master gene" [the nanog gene] ...
that is largely responsible for giving those cells [the stem cells]
their unique regenerative and therapeutic potential.
Is this the equivalent of old-school NANOGers beating up netmonkeys with a
cluebat? 
scott