Lecture 1: Introduction Flashcards
multicellular animals and plants rely on stem cells to
to grow from a single cell to an adult
stem cells allow our bodies to build new
tissues
stem cells are important in 3 processes in organisms..
development, cell renewal & healing. Continually replace specialised cells in our body if they are warn / damaged
Stem cells are defined by two key characteristics
1) the ability to divide to generate exact copies of themselves in a process called self-renewal
2) the ability to differentiate into specialised cells in process called differentiation
Tissue stem cells:
- also known as adult or tissue-specific stem cells
- allow you to develop, grow, heal, and repair worn out cells
- most tissues have tissue stem cells: muscle, blood + bone, nervous system & skin.
- important at all staged of life
Embryonic stem cells:
- created from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst
- cells are collected then grown on plates in a lab
iPS cells (induced pluripotent stem cells)
- cells from one person are genetically reprogrammed in a lab
- the modified cells begin to gain the ability to self-renew and differentiate like embryonic stem cells can
how do stem cells fit into ‘regeneration science;
- Aging, injuries and disease are a result of damaged, malfunctioning or dying specialised cells
- By better understanding how stem cells are controlled and how diseases develop, researchers hope to find new ways to treat patients
- Regenerative medicine aims to restore normal function by replacing damaged or malfunctioning cells and tissues in patients
Regenerative medicine aims to
restore normal function by replacing damaged or malfunctioning cells and tissues in patients
Research by scientists hinges on learning how different biological processes work and applying that knowledge to:
- Better understand causes and progression of diseases, meaning better treatments
- Create new biological tools and technologies to accelerate research, drug discovery and the medical testing while also reducing costs and animal use
- Design and develop novel treatments to both enhance natural repair processes and use the abilities of stem cells for replacing damages, malfunctioning diseased cells
currently what medical treatments are approved using stem cells in the UK
bone marrow transplants (also called haematopoietic stem cell transplants) for treating blood and disorders in the immune system.
origin of the term ‘stem cell’
Ernest Haeckel 1834-1919
- used the term stem cell to describe cells committed to give rise to the gremlin
- cells that give rise to other cells
4 main uses of stem cells:
1) basic research
2) regenerative medicine
3) drug discovery
4) Cancer
prospects and length for regenerative medicine
15-20 years
- Basic research
- Proof of concept (animal studies in vivo)
- Develop robust methods
- Ensure all procedures are safe (Good Manufacturing Procedures)
- Phase I clinical trial (safety)
- Phase II Efficacy
- Phase III prolonged trial
Teratoma
- Mixed array of embryonic tissue
- Can be malignant, Tetracarcinoma
- Single cells can lead to new tumours, cancer stem cells
- Teratomas look like jumbled up embryos
- The stem cells of teratomas resemble cells of the inner cell mass
