Cells Flashcards
What are stem cells?
Unspecialized cells that can continuously divide and replicate and can differentiate into specialized cells
How do stem cells differentiate ?
While developing stem cells change as they mature by chemical signals released activating different genes (instructions)
Totipotent
can differentiate into ANY type of cell
pluripotent
can differentiate into MANY types of cell
multipotent
can differentiate into a few related types of cell
Unipotent
can regenerate but only differentiate into one type of cell. (liver to liver cell)
Red Blood
carries hemoglobin that transports O2 and CO2
Skin
forms junctions with other cells to create barrier
Muscle
forms bundles to allow movement
White Blood
Destroy pathogens like bacteria
Nerve
conducts electrical impulses for communication within the body
bone
collect calcium to create a structure
sperm
contains a flagella to transport DNA to an egg
fat
stores lipids and carbohydrates to be used for energy
what are the 2 types of stem cells
embryonic (pluripotent) and tissue (Multipotent)
where can stem cells come from?
embryos, umbilical (multipotent), adult tissues (bone marrow)
ease and ethics of extraction: adult
Difficult to obtain cuz buried deep in tissues like bone, liver and skin/adult can give permission for extraction (reduced potential/lower risk of tumor growth)
ease and ethics of extraction: Embryo
can be obtained by excess embryos made by the IVF program/only obtained by destruction of embryo (almost unlimited growth/high risk tumor)
ease and ethics of extraction: Cord blood
easily obtained and stored but in limited quantity/umbilical cord is removed at birth and discarded anyway whether or not for stem cell usage (reduced potential/lower risk of tumor growth)
process of stem cell therapy
use of biochemical to trigger stem cell differentiation
surgical implatation
suppression of immune system
careful monitoring for cancerous shenanigans
leukima
bone marrow treatment
paraplegia
repair spinal injuries to regain movement
diabetes
replace islet cells with cells capable of producing insulin in type 1 diabetics
burn victims
graft new skin cells to replace damaged ones
ethical issues of stem cells
adult = limited application cuz multipotent
embryo = greatest yield of pluripotent at cost of destruction of life
umbilical = stored at a cost meaning inaccessible (pluripotent)
benifits of somatic nuclear
like actual embryos but requires creation of embryo
benifits of nuclear
same makeup as donor but virus and disease could live inside.
