Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells that can differentiate into specialized cells and can divide (through mitosis) to produce more stem cells. They are found in multicellular organisms.

In mammals there are two broad types of stem cells;

 Embryonic stem cells, which are

isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts,  

Adult stem cells, which are found in various tissues.

Stem cells can:• self-renew to make more

stem cells• differentiate into a

specialised cell type

Embryonic stem cells (pluripotent)

Stem cells that can become many types of cells in the body are

called pluripotent

Tissue stem cells (multipotent)

Stem cells that can become only a few types of cells are

called multipotent

Why are stem cells special?

Stem cells' advantages in treating complicated diseases

Effect:  medication, surgery and other tradit ional treatment may be able to control development of some diseases,

but hard to restore health even reverse the development of these diseases.

Duration :  long-term treatment is required

Effect :  through cel l regenerat ion, i t is hopeful to reverse development of diseases and restore health. I t 's safe, no side effect, and can assist tradit ional treatment to improve treatment effect.

Duration :  short treatment course, each of which lasts about 3 months. After the treatment, evaluation is required to determine whether further sessions are needed.

The Stem Cell Treatment Experience of a Cerebral Palsy Boy

Cell Nuclear Replacement - is the process of inserting the nucleus of an adult cell into a donated egg from which the original nucleus has been removed. Following CNR, if the recipient egg is induced to divide, an embryo can be produced. CNR was the first step in the process by which Dolly the sheep was created.

Vaccines - a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease.

Biotechnology Industry Facts

•There are more than 370 drugs products and vaccines currently in clinical trials targeting more than 200 diseases including;

•Cancers•Alzheimer’s disease•Heart disease•Diabetes•Multiple sclerosis•AIDS•Arthritis

Agricultural Biotechnology

Agricultural biotechnology includes a range of tools that scientists employ to understand and manipulate the genetic make-up of organisms for use in the production or processing of agricultural products.

Crop Improvement

• “Artificial Selection”

-Based on basic Mendelian genetics where two plant types of the same species are crossed to produced a better plant type.

Example: Crossing a plant that has a high tolerance to disease with a plant that has a high fruit yield gives you a disease resistant plant with a high fruit yield.

Genetic Modification

-Inserted genes from other species into plants/animals in order to increase yields or protect against pests or environmental conditions.

-They are tested to ensure no adverse environmental or health effects.

Natural Protection for Plants

•Herbicide Tolerance

•Resistance to Environmental Stresses

Tissue culture

Teak tissue cultures multiplied in test tubes

Teak plantation

established

Teak tissue cultured plants ready for

field planting

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Animal Biotechnology

Transgenics are genetically modif ied organisms with DNA from another source inserted into their genome

A large number of transgenic animals have been created

Mice Cows Pigs Sheep Goats Fish Frogs Insects

Currently, no transgenic animal or animal product is approved by the FDA or USDA for human consumption

Some of the goals of transgenic animal creation are:

•Research into animal and human disease

•Improve livestock animals

•Use of animals as bioreactors

Improving Animal Health

•Diagnostic Testing

•Brucellosis- Disease given to humans by animals.

•Pregnancy

•Disease Treatment

•Scours

•Parasites

•Shipping Fever

•Controlling animal disease through genetically altered vaccines

Improving Productivity

•Somatotrophins- hormones that circulate in the blood, and are produced by the pituitary gland. Regulate fat deposits, milk production, and growth.

•bST- Bovine Somatotrophin- Increases weight gain, produces leaner meat.

•pST- Porcine Somatotrophin- Increases feed efficiency, and reduces fat.

Prepared by:

Santa Isabel C. Mercado

MAED- SCIENCE