Phases of reprogramming

•Consolidated view of reprogramming phases, waves and stages•Some sequential events cadence reprogramming•Surface and genetic markers are essential for the study of the reprogramming process.•Human and mouse reprogramming processes share key sequential events.

Despite advances in the field of somatic cell reprogramming, an understanding and exploration of the underlying mechanisms governing this process are only recently emerging. It is now increasingly apparent that key sequential events correlate with the reprogramming process; a process previously thought to be random and unpredictable is now looking, to a greater extent, defined and controlled. Herein, we will review the key cellular and molecular events associated with the reprogramming process, giving an integrative and conciliatory view of the different studies addressing the mechanism of nuclear reprogramming.