1. Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology Major Topics for Discussion: 1) What are Stem Cells? 2) What are the major types of Stem Cells and where are they found? 3) Advantages & Disadvantages to ESCs and ASCs 4) Why are Stem Cells so very important? 5) The Controversy over Stem Cells?

2. What are Stem Cells? Stem Cells are extraordinary because: They can divide and make identical copies of themselves over and over again (Self-Renewal) Remain Unspecialized with no ‘specific’ function or become.... Specialized (Differentiated) w/ the potential to produce over 200 different types of cells in the body.

3. Description: A colony of embryonic stem cells. 10X. Image in the Public Domain. Description: (A) Human ESCs; (B) Neurons derived from Human ESCs. Images courtesy of Nissim Benvenisty.

4. Click Below for Tutorial Caption: This image depicts a colony of human embryonic stem cells grown over a period of 10 months in the absence of mouse feeder cells. The cell nuclei are stained green; the cell surface in red. Photo Credit: Courtesy Ren-He Xu/University of WisconsinCourtesy Ren-He Xu/University of Wisconsin

5. The Major Types of Stem Cells A.Embryonic Stem Cells From blastocysts left over from In-Vitro Fertilization in the laboratory From aborted fetuses B. Adult Stem Cells Stem cells have been found in the blood, bone marrow, liver, kidney, cornea, dental pulp, umbilical cord, brain, skin, muscle, salivary gland....

6. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Stem_cells_diagram.png

7. Advantages and Disadvantages to Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells. Embryonic S.C.Adult S.C. “Pluripotent” (can become any cell) “Multipotent” (“can become many but not any”) Stable. Can undergo many cell divisions. Less Stable. Capacity for self-renewal is limited. Easy to obtain but blastocyst is destroyed. Difficult to isolate in adult tissue. Possibility of rejection??Host rejection minimized

8. Reprinted with permission of Do No Harm. Click on image for link to website.

10. Why is Stem Cell Research So Important to All of Us? Stem cells allow us to study how organisms grow and develop over time. Stem cells can replace diseased or damaged cells that can not heal or renew themselves. We can test different substances (drugs and chemicals) on stem cells. We can get a better understanding of our “genetic machinery.”

11. Reprinted with permission from the Univ. of Kansas Medical Center. Click on image for link to originating website.

12. What Human Diseases are Currently Being Treated with Stem Cells? Parkinson’s Disease Leukemia (Bone Marrow Transplants) Skin Grafts resulting from severe burns Stem Cell Therapy has the Potential to: Regenerate tissues/organs Cure diseases like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, etc.

13. Why the Controversy Over Stem cells? Embryonic Stem cells are derived from extra blastocysts that would otherwise be discarded following IVF. Extracting stem cells destroys the developing blastocyst (embryo). -Questions for Consideration- Is an embryo a person? Is it morally acceptable to use embryos for research? When do we become “human beings?” For further information: http://bioethics.gov/cgi-bin/bioeth-counterhttp://bioethics.gov/cgi-bin/bioeth-counter