The invention relates to a method for producing stem cells having an increased development potential from somatic stem cells, wherein a tissue sample comprising somatic stem cells or a body fluid sample comprising somatic stem cells is taken from an organism, wherein from this tissue sample or body fluid sample as an option somatic stem cells are isolated and/or cultivated, and wherein the thus obtained somatic stem cells are treated with a substance modulating the methylation of the DNA of the cells or a substance modulating the acetylation of chromatin of the cells.