PH116: Genetics and Bioengineering
Public Health 116 Presentation Script: Sophie Jia, Karen Cheng Animation: Sophie Jia Narration: Alice Zhao Music: 40mP, 5pb.

By: Sophie Jia

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PH116: Genetics and Bioengineering - Video

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Tracing Our Ancestors: Using Genetics to Investigate Genealogy
Rick Kittles is a pioneer in the practice of tracing ancestry through DNA. A professor in the Department of Medicine and the Division of Epidemiology and Bio...

By: Chicago Humanities Festival

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Tracing Our Ancestors: Using Genetics to Investigate Genealogy - Video

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Genetics and Flies
This video screencast was created with Doceri on an iPad. Doceri is free in the iTunes app store. Learn more at http://www.doceri.com.

By: MrsJacobsAPBio

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Genetics and Flies - Video

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A long molecule that looks like a twisted ladder. It is made of four types of simple units and the sequence of these units carries information, just as the sequence of letters carries information on a page.

They form the rungs of the DNA ladder and are the repeating units in DNA. There are four types of nucleotides (A, T, G and C) and it is the sequence of these nucleotides that carries information.

A package for carrying DNA in the cells. They contain a single long piece of DNA that is wound up and bunched together into a compact structure. Different species of plants and animals have different numbers and sizes of chromosomes.

A segment of DNA. Genes are like sentences made of the "letters" of the nucleotide alphabet, between them genes direct the physical development and behavior of an organism. Genes are like a recipe or instruction book, providing information that an organism needs so it can build or do something - like making an eye or a leg, or repairing a wound.

The different forms of a given gene that an organism may possess. For example, in humans, one allele of the eye-color gene produces green eyes and another allele of the eye-color gene produces brown eyes.

The complete set of genes in a particular organism.

When people change an organism by adding new genes, or deleting genes from its genome.

An event that changes the sequence of the DNA in a gene.

Genetics is the study of genes what they are and how they work. Genes are units inside a cell that control how living organisms inherit features from their ancestors; for example, children usually look like their parents because they have inherited their parents' genes. Genetics tries to identify which features are inherited, and explain how these features pass from generation to generation.

In genetics, a feature of a living thing is called a "trait". Some traits are part of an organism's physical appearance; such as a person's eye-color, height or weight. Other sorts of traits are not easily seen and include blood types or resistance to diseases. The way our genes and environment interact to produce a trait can be complicated. For example, the chances of somebody dying of cancer or heart disease seems to depend on both their genes and their lifestyle.

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Introduction to genetics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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2010 07 28 Gene Therapy

By: Lynn Marquis

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2010 07 28 Gene Therapy - Video

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PRP ACell Use for Hair Transplant Lecture by Dr. Sam Lam
http://www.hairtx.com Dallas hair transplant surgeon and course director for the 5th Annual St. Louis University Hair Transplant 360 Dr. Sam Lam discusses th...

By: Samuel Lam

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PRP ACell Use for Hair Transplant Lecture by Dr. Sam Lam - Video

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Lockheed Martin UCLA Health TeleHealth Suite
Thanks to a $4 million gift from Lockheed Martin, UCLA Health #39;s Operation Mend now has a state-of-the-art telehealth suite, which will enable improved commun...

By: UCLA Health

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Lockheed Martin UCLA Health TeleHealth Suite - Video

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Stem cells: When will they heal the heart?

Its been 15 years since a University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher isolated embryonic stem cells the do-anything cells that appear in early development. Its been six years since adult human cells were transformed into the related induced pluripotent stem cells.

ENLARGE

Some day, stem cell therapy could restore cells, save hearts, and avoid the need for some heart transplants, such as this one. This heart is ready for its new home.

And yet the early hope to grow spare parts turning stem cells into specialized cells for repairing a failing brain, pancreas or heart, remains mostly promise rather than reality.

Researchers have since found how to transform stem cells into a wide variety of body cells, including heart muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes. But the holy Grail tissue supplementation or replacement remains tantalizingly out of reach.

Last week, Why Files attended a symposium on treating cardiovascular disease with stem cells, at the BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute near Madison, Wis. We found the picture unexpectedly complicated: as multiple kinds of stem cells are grown and delivered in a bewildering variety of ways to treat a catalog of conditions.

So far, stem cells have not been approved to treat any heart disease in the United States.

Still, the need remains clear. Disorders of the heart and blood vessels, which deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body, continue to kill. Today, one of every 2.6 Americans will die of some cause related to their heart, writes Columbia University Medical Center.

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Stem cell therapy: When will it help the heart? | The Why Files

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We are going to continue to discuss here the issue of science-based selection of active ingredients for skin care products, both from a safety and efficacy point of view. This []

As iron oxidizes, the result is rust. As faces oxidize, the result is chronic inflammation leading to the appearance of aging. But rather than getting soft and crumbly like rusty []

The author of this post, Lina Jacobson, is a licensed esthetician from Boise, Idaho who has operated her own salon for more than 18 years. Because she is a kindred []

The word inflammation comes from the Latin inflammo, meaning I set alight, I ignite.Inflammation is part of the bodys immune response. Initially, it is beneficial when, for example, your skin []

While our facial skins cells all start out with the exact same DNA, they dont all look alike. Skin, more than any other organ, reflects a genetic mosaicism, which []

Truth matters, but pigment smatters Some species communicate their moods by changing the hue, tone and intensity of their facial coloration. Humans do so to a limited extent (e.g. we []

Injectable dermal fillers aka facelift in a bottle The liquid face lift has been popular for years and for understandable reasons a more youthful appearance with no downtime, no []

We had a eureka moment in our research labs when we stumbled upon what Nerium oleander could do for skin.Dennis Knocke,Chairman & Chief Executive Officer,Nerium Biotechnology, Inc. Wesuspect the real []

Does this man look 70 years old to you? He is. He published an article in 2006 about a procedure he has used fifty times. Dr. Desmond Fernandes is a []

This follows on our previous post, where we take this beauty industry stalwart to task for promoting a product (Avon Anew Wrinkle Eraser Pro)that they claim increases activity of []

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BareFacedTruth.com | Physician-scientists examine the ...

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Sustainable Agriculture: No to GMOs

Over the past 50 years, we have nearly tripled agricultural outputs. But this so-called "Green Revolution" comes at unbearable costs for the environment, public health and social welfare. Industrial farming with its dependency on fossil fuels, toxic inputs and ignorance for common goods has proven to be a dead-end road.

Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants, animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes in a way that does not occur naturally. These genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can spread through nature and interbreed with natural organisms, thereby contaminating non-"GE" environments and future generations in an unforeseeable and uncontrollable way.

"As a native of South Africa, and someone who has seen first-hand starvation in Africa I am often asked how it is that I can be opposed to genetic engineering. This questioning assumes that genetic engineering leads to healthier, sustainable and more abundant crops but this is far from the truth. In fact, genetic engineering has the potential to increase hunger around the globe. This of course jars with most peoples logic (and defies brilliant marketing campaigns by industry) that the companies responsible for producing food globally could actually cause further food scarcity. It angers me that corporate scientists and global genetic engineering companies can still get away with making the bogus claim that their seeds will feed the poor, when in fact their only goal is greater profits." -Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace International Executive Director

Proponents argue that genetic engineering is worth the risk because it helps alleviate the global food crisis. However, globally speaking, lack of food isnotthe cause of hunger. Political challenges and failures are the cause of world hunger with an estimated one billion victims. In other words, more food doesn't necessarily mean fewer hungry.

Also, according to recent carbon footprint analysis, the entire chain of food production and consumption accounts for 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing these greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the long-term storage of carbon in the soil are therefore essential measures to prevent a climate catastrophe.

Organic agriculture is a rapidly growing sector of agriculture that focuses on the health, ecology, fairness and care of the farming process. Organic practices use local resources and offers opportunities for increasing farmers' income and improving their livelihood.

To feed the world sustainably into the future, fundamental changes are needed in our farming and food systems. Greenpeace believes we need a thorough and radical overhaul of present international and national agricultural policies. You can help by using your power as a consumer to buy locally grown, organic food and urging your Representatives to pass laws that protect our health and eliminate genetic engineering.

Molly Dorozenski (New York)

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Sustainable Agriculture | Genetic engineering dangers and ...

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Role of family history and genetics in carpal tunnel syndrome
Hand pain, gripping problems, wrist pain, tingling or numbness and waking up at night from any one of these sensations can be symptoms of carpal tunnel syndr...

By: CarpalRx

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Role of family history and genetics in carpal tunnel syndrome - Video

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Genetics Video Pluripotent Stem Cells

By: Emerson Pk

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Genetics Video Pluripotent Stem Cells - Video

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World #39;s 1st Human Embryonic Stem Cell Trial for Spinal Cord Injury: Katie Sharify (8 min)
Katie Sharify was one of five people with spinal cord injuries to participate in the world #39;s first clinical trial testing human embryonic stem cells. The Geron sponsored trial was supported...

By: California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

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World's 1st Human Embryonic Stem Cell Trial for Spinal Cord Injury: Katie Sharify (8 min) - Video

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Project Walk Carlsbad - Victoria Arlen, Spinal Cord Injury Milestone
Victoria was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis and spent nearly three years in a complete vegetative state. Since then she has defied the odds and recovered...

By: Project Walk

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Project Walk Carlsbad - Victoria Arlen, Spinal Cord Injury Milestone - Video

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Spinal Cord Injury Salt Lake City
http://www.injuryutah.com Spinal cord injury is a serious affliction that requires immediate attention from medical professionals. Sometimes, often after a p...

By: Norman Younker

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Spinal Cord Injury Salt Lake City - Video

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Pete Hardy: A Patient #39;s Perspective on Adult Stem Cell Therapy
Pete Hardy, a passionate MedRebel and a 61-year-old patient advocate, voices his experience with adult stem cells. Watch his story! For more information see ...

By: Med Rebels

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Pete Hardy: A Patient's Perspective on Adult Stem Cell Therapy - Video

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Cell therapy (or Cellular therapy) is therapy in which cellular material is injected into a patient.[1]

Cell therapy originated in the nineteenth century when scientists experimented by injecting animal material in an attempt to prevent and treat illness.[2] Although such attempts produced no positive benefit, further research found in the mid twentieth century that human cells could be used to help prevent the human body rejecting transplanted organs, leading in time to successful bone marrow transplantation.[3]

Today two distinct categories of cell therapy are recognized.[1]

The first category is cell therapy in mainstream medicine. This is the subject of intense research and the basis of potential therapeutic benefit.[4] Such research, especially when it involves human embryonic material, is controversial.

The second category is in alternative medicine, and perpetuates the practice of injecting animal materials in an attempt to cure disease. This practice, according to the American Cancer Society, is not backed by any medical evidence of effectiveness, and can have deadly consequences.[1]

Cell therapy can be defined as therapy in which cellular material is injected into a patient.[1]

There are two branches of cell therapy: one is legitimate and established, whereby human cells are transplanted from a donor to a patient; the other is dangerous alternative medicine, whereby injected animal cells are used to attempt to treat illness.[1]

The origins of cell therapy can perhaps be traced to the nineteenth century, when Charles-douard Brown-Squard (18171894) injected animal testicle extracts in an attempt to stop the effects of aging.[2] In 1931 Paul Niehans (18821971) who has been called the inventor of cell therapy attempted to cure a patient by injecting material from calf embryos.[1] Niehans claimed to have treated many people for cancer using this technique, though his claims have never been validated by research.[1]

In 1953 researchers found that laboratory animals could be helped not to reject organ transplants by pre-innoculating them with cells from donor animals; in 1968, in Minnesota, the first successful successful human bone marrow took place.[3]

Bone marrow transplants have been found to be effective, along with some other kinds of human cell therapy for example in treating damaged knee cartilage.[1] In recent times, cell therapy using human material has been recognized as an important field in the treatment of human disease.[4] The experimental field of Stem cell therapy has shown promise for new types of treatment.[1]

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Cell therapy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Endogenous cardiac stem cells (eCSCs) are tissue-specific stem progenitor cells harboured within the adult mammalian heart.

They were first discovered in 2003 by Bernardo Nadal-Ginard, Piero Anversa and colleagues [1][2] in the adult rat heart and since then have been identified and isolated from mouse, dog, porcine and human hearts.[3][4]

The adult heart was previously thought to be a post mitotic organ without any regenerative capability. The identification of eCSCs has provided an explanation for the hitherto unexplained existence of a subpopulation of immature cycling myocytes in the adult myocardium. Indeed, recent evidence from a genetic fate-mapping study established that stem cells replenish adult mammalian cardiomyocytes lost by cardiac wear and tear and injury throughout the adult life.[5] Moreover, it is now accepted that myocyte death and myocyte renewal are the two sides of the proverbial coin of cardiac homeostasis in which the eCSCs play a central role.[6] These findings produced a paradigm shift in cardiac biology and opened new opportunities and approaches for future treatment of cardiac diseases by placing the heart squarely amongst other organs with regenerative potential such as the liver, skin, muscle, CNS. However, they have not changed the well-established fact that the working myocardium is mainly constituted of terminally differentiated contractile myocytes. This fact does not exclude, but is it fully compatible with the heart being endowed with a robust intrinsic regenerative capacity which resides in the presence of the eCSCs throughout the individual lifespan.

Briefly, eCSCs have been first identified through the expression of c-kit, the receptor of the stem cell factor and the absence of common hematopoietic markers, like CD45. Afterwards, different membrane markers (Sca-1, Abcg-2, Flk-1) and transcription factors (Isl-1, Nkx2.5, GATA4) have been employed to identify and characterize these cells in the embryonic and adult life.[7] eCSCs are clonogenic, self renewing and multipotent in vitro and in vivo,[8] capable of generating the 3 major cell types of the myocardium: myocytes, smooth muscle and endothelial vascular cells.[9] They express several markers of stemness (i.e. Oct3/4, Bmi-1, Nanog) and have significant regenerative potential in vivo.[10] When cloned in suspension they form cardiospheres,[11] which when cultured in a myogenic differentiation medium, attach and differentiate into beating cardiomyocytes.

In 2012, it was proposed that Isl-1 is not a marker for endogenous cardiac stem cells.[12] That same year, a different group demonstrated that Isl-1 is not restricted to second heart field progenitors in the developing heart, but also labels cardiac neural crest.[13] It has also been reported that Flk-1 is not a specific marker for endogenous and mouse ESC-derived Isl1+ CPCs. While some eCSC discoveries have been brought into question, there has been success with other membrane markers. For instance, it was demonstrated that the combination of Flt1+/Flt4+ membrane markers identifies an Isl1+/Nkx2.5+ cell population in the developing heart. It was also shown that endogenous Flt1+/Flt4+ cells could be expanded in vitro and displayed trilineage differentiation potential. Flt1+/Flt4+ CPCs derived from iPSCs were shown to engraft into the adult myocardium and robustly differentiate into cardiomyocytes with phenotypic and electrophysiologic characteristics of adult cardiomyocytes.[14]

With the myocardium now recognized as a tissue with limited regenerating potential,[15] harbouring eCSCs that can be isolated and amplified in vitro [16] for regenerative protocols of cell transplantation or stimulated to replicate and differentiate in situ in response to growth factors,[17] it has become reasonable to exploit this endogenous regenerative potential to replace lost/damaged cardiac muscle with autologous functional myocardium.

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Endogenous cardiac stem cell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -

In 2003,Melvin Walkerlay on an exam table of a Charlotte Hospital.He had suffered a massive heart attack that destroyed a large portion of tissue in his heart.

"I worked in concrete for about 23 years and started having heart attacks," said Melvin.

Several years later, Melvin's heart took additional beatings.

"And they've just been coming one right after the other."

"I'm just lucky that I can feel them coming and I go to the hospital."

So far Melvin has suffered four heart attacks and has had six stents put in place.

In patients like Melvin whose attacks are severe, the heart gets so scarred cardiac tissue no longer performs efficiently.

"After the procedure, it's like turning the light switch on," said Melvin.

"It all comes back. It took a little time, but it all comes back."

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Stem cells reverse heart damage - WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports ...

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Stem Cell Therapy: Helping the Body Heal Itself

Stem cells are natures own transformers. When the body is injured, stem cells travel the scene of the accident. Some come from the bone marrow, a modest number of others, from the heart itself. Additionally, theyre not all the same. There, they may help heal damaged tissue. They do this by secreting local hormones to rescue damaged heart cells and occasionally turning into heart muscle cells themselves. Stem cells do a fairly good job. But they could do better for some reason, the heart stops signaling for heart cells after only a week or so after the damage has occurred, leaving the repair job mostly undone. The partially repaired tissue becomes a burden to the heart, forcing it to work harder and less efficiently, leading to heart failure.

Initial research used a patients own stem cells, derived from the bone marrow, mainly because they were readily available and had worked in animal studies. Careful study revealed only a very modest benefit, so researchers have moved on to evaluate more promising approaches, including:

No matter what you may read, stem cell therapy for damaged hearts has yet to be proven fully safe and beneficial. It is important to know that many patients are not receiving the most current and optimal therapies available for their heart failure. If you have heart failure, and wondering about treatment options, an evaluation or a second opinion at a Center of Excellence can be worthwhile.

Randomized clinical trials evaluating these different approaches typically allow enrollment of only a few patients from each hospital, and hence what may be available at the Cleveland Clinic varies from time to time. To inquire about current trials, please call 866-289-6911 and speak to our Resource Nurses.

Cleveland Clinic is a large referral center for advanced heart disease and heart failure we offer a wide range of therapies including medications, devices and surgery. Patients will be evaluated for the treatments that best address their condition. Whether patients meet the criteria for stem cell therapy or not, they will be offered the most advanced array of treatment options.

Reviewed: 04/13

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Stem-Cell Therapy and Repair after Heart Attack and Heart Failure

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If youve been following skin care innovations for the last year or so, chances are youve heard about stem cells or have seen the ingredient pop up in various skin creams and serums. Stem cells are said to be able to make skin look refreshed and young, but many of us still have questions. What are they, exactly? Where do they come from? How do they work? Why should we try them? We took a closer look at the products and ingredients behind them to give you the scoop.

Stem cells, which occur in living organisms (including the human body), are different from other cells for two reasons. One, they are capable of renewing themselves, and two, under certain conditions, they can be induced to become cells that serve specific functions for the organism. Theyre important because of their regenerative propertiesstem cells offer a new way to treat certain diseases, and are often used in labs for screening new drugs and other biological research.

The idea behind stem cells in skin care is that by applying them topically, we might stimulate the growth of more stem cells. And because they can regenerate, theyll keep our skin looking youthful and healthy. Most stem cells used in beauty products are derived from plants. And while embryonic stem cells, taken from human embryos, are illegal, one brand we tried actually uses non-embryonic human cells that were extracted from consenting egg donors (yes, really. Read more below; for more general info on stem cells, read this guide from theNational Institutes of Health).

Short answer: we dont entirely know yet. Some research suggests that skin products containing stem cells can stimulate cell turnover and boost collagen, but there isnt a lot of conclusive evidence on the subject. Of course, that doesnt stop skin care companies from capitalizing on the buzzword. And we gotta say, the stem cell treatments we have tried certainly seem to be more effective and fast-acting than your average anti-agers.

Plant-derived stem cells typically are obtained from plants and fruits that can stay fresh for a long time or regenerate on their own, like Swiss apples, gotu kola, and grapes. Extracts of these stem cells are added to products to help neutralize free radicals and fight signs of aging and sun.

Apple: Indie Lee Swiss Apple Facial Serum

After scraping away bark from a particular tree species in Switzerland, scientists found that the tree was capable of regenerating itself. So to continue their research, they isolated the stem cells and tried them as a preservative on top of a tray full of apples and bananas. The team discovered that the stem cells actually prolonged the life of the fruits. Indie Lees Swiss Apple Facial Serum was created around the resilient power of these natural botanical-based stem cells. In addition to the extract from the rare Swiss apple stem cell, the serum contains hyaluronic acid and is highly concentratedyou need one drop for your entire face! Antioxidants and cell production-boosting benefits make this the perfect anti-aging product to add to your regimen.

Faspberry: Erno Laszlo Phormula 3-9 Repair Cream

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What Can Stem Cells Really Do For Your Skin? | Beautylish

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Introduction: What are stem cells, and why are they important? What are the unique properties of all stem cells? What are embryonic stem cells? What are adult stem cells? What are the similarities and differences between embryonic and adult stem cells? What are induced pluripotent stem cells? What are the potential uses of human stem cells and the obstacles that must be overcome before these potential uses will be realized? Where can I get more information?

An adult stem cell is thought to be an undifferentiated cell, found among differentiated cells in a tissue or organ that can renew itself and can differentiate to yield some or all of the major specialized cell types of the tissue or organ. The primary roles of adult stem cells in a living organism are to maintain and repair the tissue in which they are found. Scientists also use the term somatic stem cell instead of adult stem cell, where somatic refers to cells of the body (not the germ cells, sperm or eggs). Unlike embryonic stem cells, which are defined by their origin (cells from the preimplantation-stage embryo), the origin of adult stem cells in some mature tissues is still under investigation.

Research on adult stem cells has generated a great deal of excitement. Scientists have found adult stem cells in many more tissues than they once thought possible. This finding has led researchers and clinicians to ask whether adult stem cells could be used for transplants. In fact, adult hematopoietic, or blood-forming, stem cells from bone marrow have been used in transplants for 40 years. Scientists now have evidence that stem cells exist in the brain and the heart. If the differentiation of adult stem cells can be controlled in the laboratory, these cells may become the basis of transplantation-based therapies.

The history of research on adult stem cells began about 50 years ago. In the 1950s, researchers discovered that the bone marrow contains at least two kinds of stem cells. One population, called hematopoietic stem cells, forms all the types of blood cells in the body. A second population, called bone marrow stromal stem cells (also called mesenchymal stem cells, or skeletal stem cells by some), were discovered a few years later. These non-hematopoietic stem cells make up a small proportion of the stromal cell population in the bone marrow, and can generate bone, cartilage, fat, cells that support the formation of blood, and fibrous connective tissue.

In the 1960s, scientists who were studying rats discovered two regions of the brain that contained dividing cells that ultimately become nerve cells. Despite these reports, most scientists believed that the adult brain could not generate new nerve cells. It was not until the 1990s that scientists agreed that the adult brain does contain stem cells that are able to generate the brain's three major cell typesastrocytes and oligodendrocytes, which are non-neuronal cells, and neurons, or nerve cells.

Adult stem cells have been identified in many organs and tissues, including brain, bone marrow, peripheral blood, blood vessels, skeletal muscle, skin, teeth, heart, gut, liver, ovarian epithelium, and testis. They are thought to reside in a specific area of each tissue (called a "stem cell niche"). In many tissues, current evidence suggests that some types of stem cells are pericytes, cells that compose the outermost layer of small blood vessels. Stem cells may remain quiescent (non-dividing) for long periods of time until they are activated by a normal need for more cells to maintain tissues, or by disease or tissue injury.

Typically, there is a very small number of stem cells in each tissue, and once removed from the body, their capacity to divide is limited, making generation of large quantities of stem cells difficult. Scientists in many laboratories are trying to find better ways to grow large quantities of adult stem cells in cell culture and to manipulate them to generate specific cell types so they can be used to treat injury or disease. Some examples of potential treatments include regenerating bone using cells derived from bone marrow stroma, developing insulin-producing cells for type1 diabetes, and repairing damaged heart muscle following a heart attack with cardiac muscle cells.

Scientists often use one or more of the following methods to identify adult stem cells: (1) label the cells in a living tissue with molecular markers and then determine the specialized cell types they generate; (2) remove the cells from a living animal, label them in cell culture, and transplant them back into another animal to determine whether the cells replace (or "repopulate") their tissue of origin.

Importantly, it must be demonstrated that a single adult stem cell can generate a line of genetically identical cells that then gives rise to all the appropriate differentiated cell types of the tissue. To confirm experimentally that a putative adult stem cell is indeed a stem cell, scientists tend to show either that the cell can give rise to these genetically identical cells in culture, and/or that a purified population of these candidate stem cells can repopulate or reform the tissue after transplant into an animal.

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What are adult stem cells? [Stem Cell Information]

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The skin

In humans and other mammals, the skin has three parts - the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutis (or hypodermis). The epidermis forms the surface of the skin. It is made up of several layers of cells called keratinocytes. The dermis lies underneath the epidermis and contains skin appendages: hair follicles, sebaceous (oil) glands and sweat glands. The subcutis contains fat cells and some sweat glands.

The skin and its structure: The skin has three main layers - the epidermis, dermis and subcutis. The epidermis contains layers of cells called keratinocytes. BL = basal layer; SL = spinous layer; GL = granular layer; SC= stratum corneum. Image adapted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd: Nature Reviews Genetics 3, 199-209 (March 2002), Getting under the skin of epidermal morphogenesis, Elaine Fuchs & Srikala Raghavan; doi:10.1038/nrg758; Copyright 2002.

In everyday life your skin has to cope with a lot of wear and tear. For example, it is exposed to chemicals like soap and to physical stresses such as friction with your clothes or exposure to sunlight. The epidermis and skin appendages need to be renewed constantly to keep your skin in good condition. Whats more, if you cut or damage your skin, it has to be able to repair itself efficiently to keep doing its job protecting your body from the outside world.

Skin stem cells make all this possible. They are responsible for constant renewal (regeneration) of your skin, and for healing wounds. So far, scientists have identified several different types of skin stem cell:

Some studies have also suggested that another type of stem cell, known as mesenchymal stem cells, can be found in the dermis and hypodermis. This remains controversial amongst scientists and further studies are needed to determine whether these cells are truly mesenchymal stem cells and what their role is in the skin.

Epidermal stem cells are one of the few types of stem cell already used to treat patients. Thanks to a discovery made in 1970 by Professor Howard Green in the USA, epidermal stem cells can be taken from a patient, multiplied and used to grow sheets of epidermis in the lab. The new epidermis can then be transplanted back onto the patient as a skin graft. This technique is mainly used to save the lives of patients who have third degree burns over very large areas of their bodies. Only a few clinical centres are able to carry out the treatment successfully, and it is an expensive process. It is also not a perfect solution. Only the epidermis can be replaced with this method; the new skin has no hair follicles, sweat glands or sebaceous glands.

One of the current challenges for stem cell researchers is to understand how all the skin appendages are regenerated. This could lead to improved treatments for burn patients, or others with severe skin damage.

Researchers are also working to identify new ways to grow skin cells in the lab. Epidermal stem cells are currently cultivated on a layer of cells from rodents, called murine cells. These cell culture conditions have been proved safe, but it would be preferable to avoid using animal products when cultivating cells that will be transplanted into patients. So, researchers are searching for effective cell culture conditions that will not require the use of murine cells.

Scientists are also working to treat genetic diseases affecting the skin. Since skin stem cells can be cultivated in laboratories, researchers can genetically modify the cells, for example by inserting a missing gene. The correctly modified cells can be selected, grown and multiplied in the lab, then transplanted back onto the patient. Epidermolysis Bullosa is one example of a genetic skin disease that might benefit from this approach. Work is underway to test the technique.

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Skin stem cells: where do they live and what can they do ...

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There have been hundreds of science fiction stories and books written about growing organs in scientific laboratories as replacements for those that no longer function properly, or about injecting scientifically transmuted cells into ailing patients that can repair the broken cells within their bodies, bringing them back to robust health. In todays language what they were talking about was Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Therapy.

Here, in the early 21st century, the gap between science fiction and science truth is closing at a record rate due to the rapid progress made in iPSC Therapy research, especially over the last three years.

After the virtual stop order placed on embryonic cell stem research in 2001, the race to find an alternative type of stem cell began in earnest, and in 2006 Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University in Japan announced his teams successful reprogramming of mouse cells into iPSCs. This was the breakthrough that made it possible for stem cell research to continue without the use of controversial embryonic stem cells.

The next major announcement came in 2007, again from Yamanaka in Japan, followed by one only a few weeks later by James A. Thompson from the University of Wisconsin, detailing the making of iPSC from adult human cells. Again, neither used embryos in their experiments.

From that time on the goal has been developing stem cell science that will eventually be safe iPS Cell Therapy modalities to be used in Regenerative or Reparative Medicine. What kinds of illnesses or diseases will iPSC Therapies be used to treat in the future? Only a partial list would include:

The world of iPSC Therapy research is wide open today and its on the move! This website is dedicated to bringing you first, the story of stem cell research, both embryonic and iPStem Cell, and the controversy surrounding them, as well as the most up to date information in the easiest to understand language about major milestone accomplishments in the field.

If you were to go back 100 years you would be amazed by how primitive medicine was. Even 60 years ago there were no organ transplants, no cystoscopic surgeries, and there was a massive polio outbreak in the United States that closed public swimming pools and beaches and other public gathering places across the country for the summer. Who can tell where medicine will be in 10 or 15 years? There is no predicting, but with the rapid advancement of the last few years and the bright promise shown so far, iPSC Therapy is sure to play a major role.

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Ben Hoover and his news report on Eliza O #39;Neill and her battle with San Filippo Syndrome
Eliza has a play date in her Columbia backyard with friends at different stages of San Filippo Syndrome. I started reporting on Eliza and her family #39;s effort...

By: Ben Hoover

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Ben Hoover and his news report on Eliza O'Neill and her battle with San Filippo Syndrome - Video

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith