1. Alex Cart Frank Cummings
Stem Cells
Alex Cart
Frank Cummings

2. Alright so what are they?1
Stem cells are a class of undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types
Able to reproduce themselves
“Immortal”
Basically, a blank canvas or pluripotent

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4. Video!3

5. And where do they come from?1
Embryos
Adults

6. Embryos1 They are undifferentiated blastocysts Four to five days old
Super controversial
The baby hasn’t begun to form yet 4

7. Adult Stem Cells1 Brain Bone marrow Blood
Blood vessels
Skeletal muscles
Skin
Liver
Don’t divide until activated by disease or injury
There is debate on what they will differentiate into

8. Process
The stem cells are put in a Petri dish atop a layer of “feeder cells” or cell cultures
Depending on what the type of cell the feeder cell is, the stem cell will form into that cell

9. Controversy1 When does “life” start? Are chimeras ethical?
Researchers use mouse embryos to create human stem cells
Not as controversial but still….

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11. Current Treatments6 Helps cancer patients Skin grafts
Like the baby we read about

12. Potential Treatments Brain damage Cancer
Spinal cord injury
Heart damage
Haematopoiesis (blood cell formation)
Baldness
Missing teeth
Deafness
Blindness and vision impairment
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Graft vs. host disease and Crohn's disease
Neural and behavioral birth defects
Diabetes
Orthopedics
Wound healing
Infertility

13. Where else is it being done?7
Australia
Canada
China
Most of Europe
Finland
Israel
Japan
Singapore
United Kingdom

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15. References