Induced pluripotent stem cells are somatic cells that have been reprogrammed so that they are able to form cells to be used. The somatic cells can be reprogrammed through different processes including somatic cell transfer, cell fusion, reprogramming through cell extracts, direct reprogramming, and using viruses. Each method of forming an induced pluripotent stem cell creates different strengths and weaknesses in the cell. The idea of induced pluripotent stem cells came about as a way to avoid the ethical controversy of using embryonic stem cells but still be able to reap the benefits of the pluripotent stem cells.