Assisted repro tech - stem cells and cloning Flashcards
What are stem cells?
unspecialised cells with capacity to self renew (divide and maintain an undifferentiated state) for long periods. They have the capacity to differentiate into specialised cell types
Define cell potency
= ability to differentiate into other cell types
What types of stem cells are there?
What are the uses of stem cells?
Cell-based therapies - stem cells from cell types that are damaged
Drug development and screening - mimic the response of species-specific tissue
Disease models
Study of early development
How are stem cells used in veterinary medicine?
Mesenchymal stem cells (from bone marrow or fat) for therapies
e.g., tendon and ligament injury in horses, osteoarthritis
What is reprogramming and what is the function of it?
Non-autologous stem cell technologies face the problem of immune rejection
Programming is the reversal of differentiation of somatic cells into autologous pluripotent cells to solve this problem
What are induced pluripotent stem cells and what is the advantage?
What is somatic nuclear transfer?
What are the aims of therapeutic and reproductive cloning?
What is the difference between a twin and a clone?
twin - same genetic material
clone - similar genetic material
How is reproductive cloning done?
How is therapeutic cloning done?
What is transgenics?
cross species transfer of genetic material
What is a transgene?
a gene or segment of DNa containing a specific gene that is transferred by genetic engineering or genetic modification from one organism to another during embryonic development
What are the applications of transgenics?
Biopharmaceuticals - production of pharmaceutical products in fluids of transgenic animals
Xeno-transplantation - using animal organs in transplantation
Nutraceuticals - altering composition of animal traits to increase nutritional value and tolerance
