Introduction to Stem Cells Flashcards
2 Key features of stem cells?
- Ability to self renew (cell divides to generate daughter cells that are equivalent to the mother cell)
- Ability to undergo mitosis to form 2 daughter cells
Define cell potency
commitment options available to a cell
Define totipotent (with example)
Able to form an entire organism (e.g. zygote)
Define pluripotent (with example)
Able to form all cell lineages (including germ cell)- unable to form placenta or trophoectoderm
Define multipotent (with example)
Able to form multiple cell types in order to form tissue (e.g. haematological stem cell)
What do each of these layers form (examples)
Ectoderm ?
Mesoderm ?
Endoderm ?
Ectoderm (neural cells, skin cells…etc)
Mesoderm (bone, muscle, blood cells..etc)
Endoderm (liver, pancreas, lung…etc)
How to acquire embryonic stem cells (ESCs)
Taken from the inner cell mass in the brain
How to acquire iPSCs
Use Oct4, Sox2, Kl4, c-Myc on a differentiated cell to make it become immature
What stains to use to view:
Endoderm: ___
Mesoderm: ___
Ectoderm: ___
Endoderm: AFP
Mesoderm: M-actin
Ectoderm: II-Tub-III
Main properties of somatic stem cells (2)
- Limited self renewal
- Multipotent lineage commitment
Importance of studying stem cells
- Provides a molecular model which helps us understand mechanisms behind cellular differentiation, disease and self renewal
- In vitro model for embryonic development
- Genetic manipulation to study the function of specific genes in vitro and in vivo| disease modelling by modifying to give a genetic defect -> drug testing
Somatic Stem Cells for Cell Therapy:
Adv and Diadv
Adv:
- autologous (same organism)
- low risk of tumour growth
- less ethical issues
Disadv:
- limited accessibility
- limited potency
