Cell-based therapies: Treatment in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or destroyed cells or tissues.
Differentiation: The process whereby an unspecialized embryonic cell acquires the features of a specialized cell such as a heart, liver, or muscle cell. Differentiation is controlled by the interaction of a cell's genes with the physical and chemical conditions outside the cell, usually through signaling pathways involving proteins embedded in the cell surface.
Embryonic stem cell line: Embryonic stem cells, which have been cultured under in vitro conditions that allow proliferation without differentiation for months to years.
In Vitro: Latin for "in glass;" in a laboratory dish or test tube; an artificial environment.
Plasticity: the adaptability of an organism to changes in its environment or differences between its various habitats.
Pluripotent: The state of a single cell that is capable of differentiating into all tissues of an organism, but not alone capable of sustaining full organismal development.
Proliferation: Expansion of the number of cells by the continuous division of single cells into two identical daughter cells.
Therapeutic cloning: The process of using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to produce cells that exactly match a patient. By combining a patient's somatic cell nucleus and an enucleated egg, a scientist may harvest embryonic stem cells from the resulting embryo that can be used to generate tissues that match a patient's body. This means the tissues created are unlikely to be rejected by the patient's immune system. See also Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).
1. What are the unique properties of all stem cells? Explain in your own words what each property means.
The unique properties of all the stem cells is that it can divide and renew themselves over a long period of time.
Stem cells: Cells with a ability to divide and give rise to specialized cells
Proliferate: Expansion of cells by division making a identical sister cell
Long term self renewal: The ability of stem cells to replicate them cells into the same non specialized cells over a long period of time.
Embryonic stem cells: Embryo that is capable of dividing without waiting a long period of time.
Adult stem cells: any body cell other than gametes (egg or sperm)
Cell division: A method where a single cell will divide into two cells
Human embryonic stem cells: A type of pluripotent stem cell derived from the inner cell
Signals: Internal and external that controls the structure and function of the cell.
Genes: A functional unit of DNA that is found on chromosomes
Microenvironment: The nutrients and the growth of the cell
Epigenetic: can turn genes on and off
Cell-Based Therapies: A treatment to repair damaged cells
hematopoietic stem cell: A stem cell that rises white and red blood cells
2. What are the two main kinds of stem cells used by researchers? What are the major differences between the two types in terms of their sources and usefulness to researchers? Give examples of possible uses for each type of stem cell.
The two main kinds of stem cells used by researchers are the embryonic stem cells and the adult stem cells.
Embryonic stem cells: forms muscle cells, nerve cells, and many other cell types.
3. List some of the diseases that scientists think may be treated using stem cell research and suggest how stem cells might be used to treat each disease.
The diseases that scientists think may be treated by using stem cell research is
spinal cord injury: Inject human adult bone marrow into the spine.
stroke: Inject adult stem cells into the heart wall
The diseases that scientists think may be treated by using stem cell research is
spinal cord injury: Inject human adult bone marrow into the spine.
stroke: Inject adult stem cells into the heart wall
4. What are the necessary characteristics that laboratory-manipulated stem cells will need to have in order to be successfully used in cell-based therapies (what will stem cells need to be able to do)?
Stem cells must be able to regenerate the damaged cells or tissues and need to stay healthy.
Cited source: http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/Pages/Default.aspx
Stem cells must be able to regenerate the damaged cells or tissues and need to stay healthy.
Cited source: http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/Pages/Default.aspx
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