b6.3 stem crlls / human genome / gene tech

Question 1

where do stem cells come from and what’s the problem in using these in treatment

Answer 1

• umbilical cord blood/ donors/ stem cell banks
• can be rejected
• immunosuppressant drugs taken to stop this

Question 2

therapeutic cloning

Answer 2

embryonic cells have the same gene as the patient - is it specific and won’t be rejected
- mix an unfertilised egg with a nucleus of an adult skin self and produce an embryonic cell stem cell
- produces embryonic cells which can be made into cells for therapy

Question 3

human genome project

Answer 3

• map all genetic info of the chromosome of humans
  findings - fewer than through - most dont code for proteins - share 99% of DNA
  uses - understand inherited disorders - design new drugs and develop prrsonalised medicines

Question 4

gene therapy

Answer 4

• introduction of a normal version of an allele into cells that carry a defective version.
• Deactivated virus is used as a vector
• success rates are not high - allele doesn’t go to every target sell, and there’s a difficulty getting gene in the correct place - short lived as cells are constantly replaced
• doesnt affect eggs so won’t fix for chikdren

Question 5

gene therapy steps

Answer 5

• cells harvested from patient
• Virus, altered, so can’t reproduce
• gene inserted into virus
• Altered virus mixed with patient cells
• cells become genetically altered
• altered cells injected into the body which produce the desired protein

Question 6

genome editing

Answer 6

• enzyme cuts off the target DNA strand
• the defective DNA strands replaced with a healthy copy.
• This can lead to changes in physical traits

Question 7

ethical concerns with gene editing

Answer 7

is it safe,
the embryo can’t give permission
would it be expensive and worsens existing health inequalities?
Will people use it for trades and important for health like eye colour
should scientist, edit sex cells as it would be passed through generations.