Stem cells (EXAM 3)

Question 1

What are stem cells?

Answer 1

Pluripotent Progenitor cells, which all other specialized cells originate from

Question 2

Where can stell cells be found?

Answer 2

-tissues like the GI and bone marrow have stem cell niches
-heart, and pancreas have dormant stem cells

-Embryo, Bone marrow, Adipose tissue, Fetus, Hair follicle, Dental pulp (sharks), Skin

Question 3

Embryonic stem cell

Answer 3

Derived from the pre-implantation embryo (before implantation into the uterus)

-Self-renewal: can make copies of themselves
-pluripotent

Question 4

Where do perinatal stem cells from?

Answer 4

-amniotic fluid
-umbilical cord blood

-> seems to have an intermediate level of plasticity (less capability with ongoing life cycles (generations))

Question 5

What are induced pluripotent stem cells?

Answer 5

-Fibroblast from the skin
-already differentiated and reprogrammed to become stem cells again

Question 6

Experiments with induced pluripotent stem cells

Answer 6

-Fixing a broken heart (Ischemia damaged tissue)
-Regenerating Dopaminergic neurons in mice -> gain back motor function
-Studying Schizophrenia: taking Fibroblasts from Schizophrenia patients and reprogramming them into neuron cells to study the properties of the non-functional Schizophrenia neurons
-seizure risk evaluation: check if a drug has the potential to cause seizures

Question 7

What is the risk of stem cell therapy?

Answer 7

By altering certain genes the risk of cancer is increased
-repressing tumor suppressor genes to increase the efficiency of cell growth