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
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