For Stem Cell Research

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For Stem Cell Research
What, Why, And How?
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What is a Stem Cell?

• There are four different potencies for the stem
  cell. (The ability to change into different cell
  types.)
• Totipotent embryonic and extraembryonic
• Pluripotent Any cell type, except for above.
• Multipotent Cells related to it, (ex. red
  white blood cells).
• Unipotent Can only turn into that one cell type.

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What is a Stem Cell?

• There are two types of stem cells.
• Embryonic stem cells
• The embryonic stem cell is derived from the inner
  cell mass of a blastocyst, 4-5 day old embryo.
• The embryo comes from in vitro fertilized eggs
  that no longer have any use to the host parent.
• The ES is pluripotent and once given the correct
  chemical conditions the ES can turn into 200
  different types of specialized cells in the adult
  body.

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What is a Stem Cell?

• Adult stem cells
• The adult stem cell can be found in any mature
  organism. But it is rare to find them in one
  tissue sample.
• They have the same function as embryonic stem
  cells because they have the regenerative ability.
• The advantage of an adult stem cell is that it
  has less of a chance of being rejected by the
  individuals immune system.
• Most of the government funding towards stem cell
  research has gone to the adult stem cells.

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Why the research?

• There are thousands of different cell types in
  the human body.
• Once cultivated in the special dish, the stem
  cells evolve into many different types of these
  cells.
• It requires massive amounts of research to
  discover all of these cells.

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Why the research?

• In order for the stem cell to evolve into the
  correct cell type, there has to be a series of
  correct chemical signals.
• Since the specialized cells are being
  artificially made, we need to develop biochemical
  solutions so the stem cell will turn into the
  desired cell type.
• This of course requires tons of money and
  research.

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Why the Research?

• Cells being developed in the present may have
  trouble keeping up with other cells. An example
  is cardiac cells, they might beat to a different
  rhythm than the individuals heart.
• After making nerve cells, the doctor will have to
  rewire the nerve cell to the individuals brain.
  This is a great obstacle.
• Most important is finding a way around the
  phenomenon of tissue rejection by the immune
  system.

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How Can Stem Cell Research Help Society?

• The main idea in the long run is to develop a
  cell therapy.
• Doctors will replace dead and/or sick cells in
  the human body.
• Cancer
• Parkinson's / Lou Gehrig
• Spinal chord injuries
• Diabetes
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Macular Degeneration

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Increase in Stock Value

• This graph shows that since the mid-term
  elections, the average value for stem cell
  company shares have been rising.
• This means there will be more advances in stem
  cell research.

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How Can I Support Stem Cell Research?

• Here are a few ways to help or donate.
• http//www.stemcellresearchfoundation.org/Give/giv
  e.htm
• You can donate money with the above.
• http//www.marrow.org/DONOR/FAQs/PBSC_Donation_FAQ
  s/index.html
• You can donate marrow or other ways to help with
  the above.

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References

• "Stem Cell." Wikipedia. 11 November 2006. 14 Nov
  2006 lthttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cellgt.
• "Frequently Asked Questions." Stem Cell Research
  Foundation. Stem Cell Research Foundation. 14 Nov
  2006 lthttp//www.stemcellresearchfoundation.org/Ab
  out/FAQ.htmgt.
• Stem Cells. ClearlyExplained.com 8th June 2002.
  14 Nov 2006 http//clearlyexplained.com/nature/lif
  e/cells/stemcells.htmlgt.
• The Stem Cell Debate. Time. July 2001. 14 Nov
  2006 http//www.time.com/time/2001/stemcells/gt.
• Stem Cell. YahooFinance. Yahoo.com. 14 Nov 2006
  http//finance.yahoo.com/q?sstemcelldtsubmit
  GetQuotes