Stem cells and transgenics Flashcards
Totipotent cells can….
Give rise to an embryo
Pluripotent cells can…
Any tissue type in the body including germ cells eg. embryonic stem cells
Multipotent cells can…
Can form an entire tissue of its type e. neural stem cells
What are stem cells?
Unspecialised cells with capacity to self-renew for long periods.
Self-renewal: ability of stem cells to divide and maintain an undifferentiated state
What happens if you inject embryonic stem cells into a different blastocyst?
A chimeric embryo
Where do embryonic stem cells come from?
Derived from inner cells mass (ICM)- ES cells
Derived from the Epiblast - EpiSC
Derived from Primordial Germ Cells – EG cells
Where can we get tissue stem cells from?
Fetal Stem cells: Cord blood, amniotic fluid, fetal liver
Adult Stem cells: Neural, haematopoietic in the bone marrow, spermatogonial, mesenchymal, epidermal
What are the uses of stem cells?
Cell based therapy (eg. mesenchymal stem cells for tendon repair)
Drug development and screening
Disease models
Study of early development
What is reprogramming by cloning?
The process of reversal of differentiation of somatic cells into autologous pluripotent cells
What are transgenic animals?
a genetically modified animal containing a gene from another species
What is a transgene?
A transgene is a gene or segment of DNA containing a specific gene that is transferred by genetic engineering or genetic modification (GM) from one organism to another
What are Nutraceuticals?
Altering the composition of animal traits, such as milk, or muscle, so that they have increased nutritional value and tolerance for some patients (milk without lactose, or increased omega 3-fatty acids in muscle of pigs)
What is in vitro fertilisation?
In vitro fertilisation is a process by which an oocyte (egg) is fertilised by a sperm outside of the body, i.e in a laboratory dish
When is IVF used?
In animals, IVF is used commercially to produce embryos to be used in breeding programs (genetic improvement), mainly cows
It is also used in conservation projects to produce embryos from endangered species
What is the procedure of IVF?
1) Oocytes and sperm collection
2) Oocyte maturation
3) Mix oocytes and sperm in a culture dish or alternatively ICSI
4) Allow fertilisation to occur
5) Monitor embryo development
6) Transfer embryos in surrogate recipients
