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Stem Cells for Cell-Based Therapies Click to edit Master subtitle style
By Dr. Lauren Pecorino August 2001

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Reasons for choosing the article

Informative Interesting Relevant Well-structured Easy to understand

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What are stem cells?

A special type of "source" or "starter" cell that has the ability to grow into adult tissue.

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/scintro/

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Why is it called Stem Cell?

A stem is defined as the main stalk of a plant. Correspondingly, stem cells are the main trunk from which specialized cells develop and branch out over time.

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Origin of stem cell research

Cellular biology, first studied in the 1800s, The advent of the microscope gave scientists a first look at human cells.

cells were identified as the building blocks of life, capable of reproducing and differentiating into the cell types that make up the body.

discovery of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953 that scientists began to understand the self-replicating ability of cells.

The DNA within an embryonic cell is what allows it to differentiate into cell types..

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Stem Cells

Embryonic Stem Cells

Adult Stem Cells

Cells that are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized

Rare cells that can be found in only some developed organs or tissues

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Sources of Stem Cells

Each year it is estimated that couples undergo 120,000 cycles of fertility treatment using in vitro (outside the body) fertilization (IVF), and from these cycles 7,500 embryos are discarded
(Therapeutic Cloning) Cloned embryos

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Spare embryos at fertility Embryonic Stem Cells clinics

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Sources of Stem Cells

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Spare embryos at fertility Embryonic Stem Cells clinics

Cloned embryos (Therapeutic Cloning)

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Sources of Stem Cells

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Adult embryos at Cells Spare Tissues Cell fertility Adult Stem Embryonic Stem clinics Organs Cloned embryos

(Therapeutic Cloning) Aborted fetuses

Debate
Embryonic VS Master subtitle style Click to edit Adult

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Advantages

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Already Flexible somewhat specialized Adult Embryonic Immune hardy Mixed degree of availability Immortal

Easily available

Disadvantages

Difficult to control At odds with a patients immune system Ethically controversial Genetically unsuitable

Minimal quantity Adult Embryonic

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Finite

Disadvantages

Difficult to control At odds with a patients immune system Ethically controversial Genetically unsuitable

Minimal quantity Adult Embryonic

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Finite

Benefits of Stem Cells

Parkinsons Disease involves the loss of cells which produce the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Cure Diseases

fetal cell transplants for Parkinsons Disease release of dopamine from the transplanted cells

Neurological Parkinson's disease Blood Childhood and adult leukemia Bone marrow failure

Pancreatic & Blood Type 1 Diabetes

Used a patients plucked hair to grow skin

Other Burns Liver disease including hepatitis

Skin stem cells reside in the hair follicle and can be removed when a hair is plucked be cultured to form an epidermal equivalent of the patients own skin

bypassing the problem of rejection.

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used for venous ulcers and burns

Benefits of Stem Cells

Cure Diseases

Only Adult Stem Cells made it possible

Blood Childhood and adult leukemia Bone marrow failure Pancreatic & Blood Type 1 Diabetes Other Burns Liver disease including hepatitis
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Neurological Parkinson's disease

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Hindrance

Human embryonic stem cells are still new Ethical Issues Lack of funding for research

allow federal money to be used to fund embryonic stem cell research Condition: must only research on the existing cell lines which is more than 60 However, only 20 are available in the end researchers must also work with new lines. researchers must rely on private philanthropic support The BioBusiness

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Hindrance

Human embryonic stem cells are still new Ethical Issues Lack of funding for research

allow federal money to be used to fund embryonic stem President Obama recently cell research

lifted the ban on federal Condition: must only embryonic stem funding for research on the existing cell lines which is more than 60 cell research imposed by President Bush 8 years the However, only 20 are available in ago.end

researchers must also work with new lines. researchers must rely on private philanthropic support The BioBusiness

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Debate
Video to edit Master subtitle style Click

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Future

A remedy for other illnesses

Heart Disease, Alzheimer's disease , Muscular dystrophy , Hearing disorders , Stroke , Infertility etc

Ability to obtain embryonic stem cells without using embryos

Reprogrammed Skin Cells Could Replace Embryonic Stem Cells

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Discussion

What are your views on the ethical controversies of the usage of embryonic stem cells?

Should countries place limits on stem cell research?

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Evaluation 7.5

Needs more research

No background knowledge Includes updates on the research

Too science-based Back dated article

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Animations, videos, pictures

In-depth

BAD Good