Background: In this study, the use of embryonic stem cell therapy as a treatment for hemophilia A in mice was tested. Mouse blastocysts, lacking factor VIII (FVIII), were injected with embryonic stem cells expressing green-fluorescent protein (GFP). The blastocysts were then transferred to pseudopregnant mice in order to produce chimeric mice, and the expression of FVIII in those mice was analyzed. The green-fluorescent protein was used to ensure the successful implantation of the embryonic stem cells. After 6 months, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to determine the presence of both FVIII and GFP in the genome of the mice livers. As a result of the PCR, FVIII and GFP were expressed in three of the five chimeric mice. Next, …show more content…
This could eliminate the need to have continuous treatments, as is most common today. While research still needs to be done to make sure there are no negative long term effects to this treatment, this study demonstrated the promising future for a new embryonic stage treatment for hemophilia A. It provides a direction for future research to follow regarding the use of embryonic stem cells to treat genetic diseases.
Figure Summary: Figure 3 represents the PCR results used to determine the presence of FVIII and GFP DNA sequences in the negative control (containing no FVIII)), wildtype, and chimeric mice. The sequences were taken from the livers of the mice. A sample of DNA from each of the mice livers was amplified using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Then, the PCR product was analyzed through gel electrophoresis. The results are shown in Figure 3. In part A of figure three, the results are shown for regular PCR. The first five columns represent the chimeric mice, ctrl represents the negative control (null-FVIII), and wt. represents the wildtype. The first row shows evidence for FVIII, the second row shows evidence for the presence GFP, and the final row shows evidence of B-actin. The B-actin was the loading control, used to reaffirm that the wells of the gel were loaded properly. The number on the right
The first type of stem cell, an embryonic stem cell, is known for being able to continuously multiply, as well as for being pluripotent. They can be “derived in vitro from the blastocyst of an embryo usually left over from in vitro fertilization” (Forraz & McGuckin, 2011, p.61). Unlike other types of stem cells, embryonic stem cells have yet to be used in any kind of clinical treatment of patients. The high risks of “immune rejection” or “teratoma formation” are serious obstacles (Harris, 2009, p.182). The second type of stem cell, adult stem cells, is primarily considered to be multipotent and may be found in “specific adult human tissues” such as the skin or bone marrow, just to name a few. Over the last twenty years, the amount of scientific research and trials using adult stem cells has grown significantly, despite their lower potency than embryonic stem cells (Forraz & McGuckin, 2011, p.61). Lastly, cord blood stem cells, are technically considered to be a special type of adult stem cell, but their youthful properties give them “greater restorative and regenerative potential.” Directly following the birth of a child, these stem cells can be collected from the blood in the umbilical cord (Steenblock & Payne, 2006, p.9). Embryonic, adult, and cord blood stem cells
Embryonic stem cells have the ability to save countless of lives and not just in the United States but throughout the whole world. There are many unlimited capabilities to generate better health to the human body with the studies of embryonic stem cells. It can really make a difference in the world of medicine with astonishing breakthroughs. Embryonic stem cell research is ethical and should be acceptable in society rather than wasted aside, because it can cure diseases, save lives, and can extend the human life span. There are limited of acknowledgment for embryonic stem cells, and yet they hold the key to a promising future.
The generation of stem cells from zygotes and blastomeres retain the ability to create all embryonic and extraembryonic tissues (13) these are deemed ‘totipotent’, while cells that generate embryonic and cannot generate extraembryonic tissues are deemed ‘pluripotent’. Induced cells that are in a differentiable state, pluripotent, are the cells chosen to advance medicine. Cells selected for induced pluripotency cannot be terminally differentiated, as these cells lose their ability to be developed into other cells types (14). Pluripotency can be induced by the study of embryonic stem cells. These cells express factors (Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc), deemed Yamanaka factors (15) and described as such in this review. There are currently four main methods for delivering these factors including viral vectors, DNA-based induction, RNA molecules and recombinant proteins (fig 1.) (16,17).
As technology advances, the use of embryonic stem cell research has also expanded. Stem cells have shown promise in personalized medicine as they are undifferentiated and easily conform with the surrounding cells. There are two areas of research that stem cells are showing massive potential, cell regeneration and organ transplantation. It is thought that stem cells have the capability to “model genetic disorders in a reliable fashion such that no other method allows. It seems likely that we could use stem cells to model cells with genetic disorders and figure out how to mute certain genes, thus eliminating or drastically reducing the effects of the disease,” (1). Although embryonic stem cells (ESC) are showing great potential towards medical advancements, there are many people who are opposed to the idea of using these cells due to the aggressive nature in which we extract ESC.
The embryonic stem cell is a great medical study and medical opportunity in the medical society that we live in today. As a medical care provider I know the in the medical world it has its challenges that are associated with different reproductive technology. With the new medical research on the embryonic stem cell it has it’s negative and positive views the negative view.
Being one of the most exciting and promising fields of medical research, embryonic stem cell research has progressed over the years going more in depth to discover the key to unlock the cure to many diseases. These unique individuals have the ability to copy themselves an unlimited amount of times and can grow into any cell type in the body. Scientists are seeing infinite value in these cells. They are able to further their research on the understanding of human development and how they can help treat many diseases. These embryonic stem cells give hope for medical advancement having the ability to grow into many different cells and can replace damaged or dead ones, producing new organs in the process. These cells have the ability to prevent or reduce the suffering of many people with many fatal diseases. Continuing stem cell research can further eradicate life-threatening diseases, introduce new medical knowledge, and help improve the health and appearance of burn victims.
The society has evolved over the decades. Medical advances, greater technologies, better understanding of the world around us, the sky is the limit! The progression of a society is astounding from where it was just twenty years ago. One is able to do things that the forefathers would have never dreamed! Science has discovered ways to travel to the moon and back, reach some of the deepest depths of the oceans and discover new species, and drive hybrid cars. The achievements of today’s society have reached a new high; however, with great achievement comes great questions of ethics.
Stem cell therapy has been an issue for debate as long as I can remember. The potential cure for any number of diseases is exciting and gives us reason to be thankful for the potential for healing in the people that we love. There is a real potential for stem cell therapy to be the future when it comes to health and humanity. However, the story doesn't end without controversy. Since the beginning of this particular type of research, groups vehemently debated its ethical outcome. On one hand, there is a real possibility to save lives or help people who are hurting. On the other hand, when stem cells are gathered from an embryo, that embryo is destroyed. Those who believe human life begins at conception, believe that this process is killing a human person. Proponents of Embryonic stem cell research say that the embryos that were used to extract stem cells were either a byproduct of abortion or gathered from the aftermath of the birth of a living child.
Imagine that a patient enters a hospital because they have been having trouble urinating. After the patient goes through a series of tests, they are told that their kidneys are failing. In order to survive they are told that they must have a kidney transplant within the year, but the donor list they are going to be placed upon is extremely long and the patient would probably not get a kidney for five years. The patient would surely die due to this long list, but luckily there is a new form of treatment, stem cell therapy. Stem cell research and therapy should not be as regulated as it is in the United States, because it has the potential to cure many diseases, disorders and ailments.
Stem cell research is capable to cure many diseases, as well as eliminating donor organ rejection, which has been one of the medical difficulties. In spite of having these potentials, the research done so far has been problematic and resulted in more unresolved complication than success. As cited in Healey (2007, p. 25), Sherley (2006) stated “[t]hese defects [from stem cell genetic program] will certainly render tissues derived from them ineffective and potentially dangerous.” On the other hand, it has enhanced the level of study, for being able to provide a path for the study of early human development. Moreover, the trials for new drugs are accessible and early prevention for certain disease could be carried out. Clearly, the future of stem cell research cannot be justified in terms of its
A major goal of cardiac stem cell therapy is to transplant enough cells into the myocardium at the site of injury or infarction to maximize restoration of function. Several different approaches currently are being used to deliver stem cells. The intracoronary infusion involves the infusion of cells into a coronary artery, usually during a brief coronary occlusion produced by inflating a balloon at the tip of the catheter. This method of delivery offers several advantages: (1) it results in a much more uniform distribution of cells within the infarcted region, (2) it does not require specialized training or the purchase of specialized equipment, and (3) it is technically easier, more practical and widespread
Today’s society has involved many scientific advances and beneficial research. Scientists all over the world have been doing recent studies on embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are the cells that aid the process of child growth while in the womb. These cells have a specific function to reproduce into any body part, such as a heart or major organ to hair or something not so major. Research shows that these cells have many potential medical benefits in the future. Embryonic stem cell research should continue to be pursued in society today.
Therapeutic cloning has the potential use stem cells to cure diseases. Although there are many benefits the process of obtaining stem cells depends upon the massacre of the embryo. Nonetheless the benefits
a. Stem cells are a very unique and useful medical advancement. The basic idea of a stem cell is: A cell that is able to differentiate into a specialized cell type. These are different from other cells, because each organ and body system has unique cells for their functions (Like how blood has red and white blood cells, while muscles have cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscle cells). Stem cell aren’t specialized for any function or organ yet, but are able to differentiate into a unique cell type when needed.
Recently, there has been quite a lot of controversy among the media regarding the topic of stem cell research, its pros and cons, but what is this controversy really about? The term “stem” cells can be compared with another much known term: “differentiated” cells. The importance they bring to the humankind is that of the hope of new medical advancements being deposited into these cells because of their amazing capability to develop in almost any type of cell. For example, spinal cord cells that have been injured or neural cells in our brains that may have a certain type of disability would now be treated with these stem cells. Or, when talking about cancer, a disease that is nowadays affecting lots of people, especially