L1 Introduction Flashcards
Define the term ‘Stem Cells’.
Cells that have the potential to generate different specialised tissues (differentiation) as well as copies of themselves (self-replication).
Who created the term stem cells and what was the definition then?
Ernst Haeckel took the word stammbaume (meaning the tree of life) and created the word stammzelle meaning the origin of all species.
Define totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent, and unipotent.
- Totipotent = the cell produces all cells of th human body including the trophoblast (e.g. the zygote).
- Pluripotent = cells that produce the derivatives of the three germ layers (e.g. embryonic stem cells).
- Multipotent = cells that produce cell types from a tissue or organ.
- Unipotent = cells that can only produce a single cell type (e.g. muscle satellite cells).
Describe ways in which stem cells can be used as therapies.
- Allogenic method = stem cells are taken from a donor, expanded in the lab and then transplanted into different patients.
- Autologous = stem cells are taken from a person, grown in the lab and then put back in the same patient. This includes iPSCs.
- Recruitment of endogenous stem cells from the same tissue i.e. use drugs to ‘awaken’ stem cells in damaged tissues in order to induce tissue repair.
What are pharmacogenomics?
The study of using stem cells to screen for new drugs while simultaneously studying genetic conditions.
Why are cancer stem cells important for anti-cancer therapies?
Before recent discoveries, drugs were used to kill the cancer cells but not the cancer stem cells. This caused tumours to shrink but they would eventually grow back.
Using these cancer stem cells, scientists have now discovered a way to kill the cancer stem cells themselves.