Lecture 1: Introduction

Question 1

multicellular animals and plants rely on stem cells to

Answer 1

to grow from a single cell to an adult

Question 2

stem cells allow our bodies to build new

Answer 2

tissues

Question 3

stem cells are important in 3 processes in organisms..

Answer 3

development, cell renewal & healing. Continually replace specialised cells in our body if they are warn / damaged

Question 4

Stem cells are defined by two key characteristics

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Tissue stem cells:

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

Embryonic stem cells:

Answer 6

• created from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst

- cells are collected then grown on plates in a lab

Question 7

iPS cells (induced pluripotent stem cells)

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

how do stem cells fit into ‘regeneration science;

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

Regenerative medicine aims to

Answer 9

restore normal function by replacing damaged or malfunctioning cells and tissues in patients

Question 10

Research by scientists hinges on learning how different biological processes work and applying that knowledge to:

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

currently what medical treatments are approved using stem cells in the UK

Answer 11

 bone marrow transplants (also called haematopoietic stem cell transplants) for treating blood and disorders in the immune system.

Question 12

origin of the term ‘stem cell’

Answer 12

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

Question 13

4 main uses of stem cells:

Answer 13

1) basic research
2) regenerative medicine
3) drug discovery
4) Cancer

Question 14

prospects and length for regenerative medicine

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Teratoma

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

What is a stem cell?

Answer 16

A stem cell is a (relatively) primitive cell that is capable of:

• Self-renewal, making a copy of oneself
• Make a renew of cell types (potency)
• Convert to a different cell type (differentiation)

Question 17

the features of stem cells allow them to

Answer 17

• Build embryos and tissues (development)
• Repair tissues (regeneration
• stem cells build us and keep us healthy

Question 18

pluripotent stem cells:

Answer 18

• Derived from early mammalian embryos (IVF)
• Or reprogrammed using transcription factors
• Grow indefinitely in vitro

Question 19

what type of stem cells have HIGH proliferation

Answer 19

pluripotent stem cells: ESC & iPSC

tissue stem cells = low

Question 20

what type of stem cells have HIGH availability

Answer 20

pluripotent stem cells: ESC & iPSC

tissue stem cells = low

Question 21

what type of stem cells are pluripotent

Answer 21

ESC + iPSC

tissue stem cells = multipotent

Question 22

ESC source =

Answer 22

EMBRYO

Question 23

iPSC source =

Answer 23

Somatic

Question 24

source of tissue stem cells

Answer 24

Adult, juvenile, fatal organs