Biotechnology ReseaBiotechnology Research Projectrch Project

by Anna Dong, Soojin Jeong, by Anna Dong, Soojin Jeong, Reina OokaReina Ooka

-Stem Cells--Stem Cells-

What are stem cells?What are stem cells?

They are found in all multi-cellular They are found in all multi-cellular organisms.organisms.

Unspecialized that renew themselves for lUnspecialized that renew themselves for long periods through cell division.ong periods through cell division.

They can be induced to become cells with They can be induced to become cells with special functions.special functions.

They are capable of dividing and renewing They are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods (replicate manthemselves for long periods (replicate many times)y times)

Where can it be found?Where can it be found?

They can become multiple specialized cell They can become multiple specialized cell types that make up the skin, marrow, types that make up the skin, marrow, blood, lung and other tissues. blood, lung and other tissues.

Recently it was discovered that they can Recently it was discovered that they can be found in the heart and brain as well.be found in the heart and brain as well.

Types of stem cellsTypes of stem cells

Embryonic Stem CellsEmbryonic Stem Cells: they are derived : they are derived from embryos.from embryos.

Adult Stem CellsAdult Stem Cells: an undifferentiated cell : an undifferentiated cell found among differentiated cells in a tissue found among differentiated cells in a tissue or organ, can renew itself, and can or organ, can renew itself, and can differentiate to yield the major specialized differentiate to yield the major specialized cell types of the tissue or organ. cell types of the tissue or organ.

Embryonic Stem CellsEmbryonic Stem Cells

embryonic stem cells are derived from embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro—in an in vitro been fertilized in vitro—in an in vitro fertilization clinic—and then donated for fertilization clinic—and then donated for research purposes with informed consent research purposes with informed consent of the donors. of the donors.

How are embryonic stem cells How are embryonic stem cells stimulated to differentiate? stimulated to differentiate?

If cells are allowed to If cells are allowed to clump together to form clump together to form embryonic bodies, embryonic bodies, they begin to they begin to differentiate differentiate spontaneously. They spontaneously. They can form muscle cells, can form muscle cells, nerve cells, and many nerve cells, and many other cell types. other cell types.

How can differentiation be used?How can differentiation be used?

If scientists can reliably direct the differentiIf scientists can reliably direct the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into specific ation of embryonic stem cells into specific cell types, they may be able to use the rescell types, they may be able to use the resulting, differentiated cells to ulting, differentiated cells to treat certain ditreat certain diseasesseases at some point in the future. at some point in the future. (For (For example, example, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, trParkinson's disease, diabetes, traumatic spinal cord injury, Purkinje cell deaumatic spinal cord injury, Purkinje cell degeneration, Duchenne's muscular dystropgeneration, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, heart disease, hy, heart disease, and and visionvision//hearing losshearing loss can be cured)can be cured)

Adult Stem CellsAdult Stem Cells

The primary roles of adult stem cells in a living organism The primary roles of adult stem cells in a living organism are to are to maintain and repair the tissue in which they are fomaintain and repair the tissue in which they are foundund. .

Scientists in many laboratories are trying to find ways to Scientists in many laboratories are trying to find ways to grow adult stem cells in grow adult stem cells in cell culturecell culture and manipulate the and manipulate them to generate specific cell types so they can be used to tm to generate specific cell types so they can be used to treat injury or disease. reat injury or disease. (Potential treatment examples (Potential treatment examples include: include: replacing the dopamine-producing cells in the brreplacing the dopamine-producing cells in the brains of Parkinson's patients, developing insulin-producinains of Parkinson's patients, developing insulin-producing cells for type I g cells for type I DDiabetes and repairing damaged heart iabetes and repairing damaged heart muscle following a heart attack with cardiac muscle muscle following a heart attack with cardiac muscle cells.cells.))

Use of Adult Stem CellsUse of Adult Stem Cells Recently, stem cells were discovered in many Recently, stem cells were discovered in many

more tissues than beforemore tissues than before Adult blood forming stem cells from bone marroAdult blood forming stem cells from bone marro

w have been used in w have been used in Transplants Transplants for 30 years. for 30 years. Certain kinds of adult stem cells seem to have thCertain kinds of adult stem cells seem to have th

e ability to differentiate into a number of different e ability to differentiate into a number of different cell types, given the right conditions. cell types, given the right conditions.

If this differentiation of adult stem cells can be coIf this differentiation of adult stem cells can be controlled in the laboratoryntrolled in the laboratory. T. These cells may becohese cells may become the basis of therapies for many serious comme the basis of therapies for many serious common diseases.mon diseases.

Start of Stem CellsStart of Stem Cells

Scientists discovered ways to obtain or Scientists discovered ways to obtain or derive stem cells from early derive stem cells from early mousemouse embryos more than 20 years ago. embryos more than 20 years ago.

Studying biological features of Mouse Studying biological features of Mouse stem cells for many years led to the stem cells for many years led to the discovery in 1998, which indicated ways to discovery in 1998, which indicated ways to isolate stem cells from isolate stem cells from humanhuman embryos embryos and to grow them in the laboratories.and to grow them in the laboratories.