Transcript Stem Cells Murder or Miracle?

Wade Schlueter
Stem Cells…?
… Huh?
A type of cell that can
turn into a variety of
different types of cells
in the body and do
so without limit.
 Types of Stem Cells:

 Adult Stem Cells,
○ aka multipotent (limited cell types)
 Embryonic,
○ aka pluripotent (many cell types)
All The Facts…. About Ovaries…
you ever wanted to know.
A woman is born with approx 2 million
eggs and never produces any more.
 11,000 die each month prior to puberty
 After puberty, about 1,000 die per month
 When all eggs are gone, menopause
begins.
 Embryos are a great source of
pluripotent stem cells

Treatment Options
Reprogrammable Stem Cells
 Stem Cells from Umbilical Cords
 Adult Stem Cells – from you!
 Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT):
“allows scientists to produce embryonic
stem cells without using sperm to
fertilize an egg.”

 Aka “Therapeutic Cloning”
Somatic Cell Nuclear
Transfer (SCNT)
Somatic Cell Nuclear
Transfer (SCNT)
Stem cells that can change into different
types of cells.
 Involves the creation and destruction of
embryos.
 Risk of bodily rejection.
 Newer technology -nuclear
reprogramming

 “Creates stem-like cells from the patient's
own cells, avoiding both these problems.”
Facial bones
created from
own stem
cells
 Adult stem
cells Can be
used for a
variety of
other
purposes,
but are more
limited.

Sources of Controversy
Fertility Clinics have excess, fertile
embryos thrown away.
 Embryos could become human beings.
 Stem Cell Research and Treatment can
easily affect tens of millions yet research
is delayed
 Reprogramming Stem Cells – Playing
God.
 Biological Insurance – Storage of your
own stem cells

Review and Questions?
Stem Cell Technology has huge medical
and ethical implications
 Various Methods for Stem Cell
Treatments
 Controversy in society
 Future direction of stem cell research

References
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http://www.americansforcures.org/article.php?uid=1000
http://ssbg.files.wordpress.com/2006/07/_stemm.jpg
http://ssbg.wordpress.com/2006/07/19/1-embryonic-stemcells-v-adult-stem-cells-theory-and-hype-v-therapeuticreality-2/
http://singularityhub.com/2009/10/22/patients-own-stemcells-used-to-grow-facial-bones/
http://www.infertile.com/brochures/biological_clock04.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7101834.stm
http://www.zeenewsmania.com/2011/06/biologicalinsurance-for-adults/
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/09/09/118141/stemcell-stay/