Embryonic stem cells

Definition

Embryonic stem cells are undifferentiated cells derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, an early-stage embryo. These cells have the remarkable ability to develop into any cell type in the body, making them a powerful tool in regenerative medicine and stem cell technologies for potential therapeutic applications.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Embryonic stem cells are derived from human embryos that are typically four to five days old, known as blastocysts.
2. These cells can replicate indefinitely in a laboratory setting, making them invaluable for research and potential therapies.
3. They hold great promise for treating conditions like spinal cord injuries, diabetes, and heart disease due to their ability to generate various cell types.
4. Ethical concerns surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells focus on the moral status of the embryo and the implications of destroying it for research.
5. Advancements in technology, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), aim to address some ethical issues by reprogramming adult cells to act like embryonic stem cells.

Review Questions

• How does the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells contribute to their potential in regenerative medicine?
  • The pluripotency of embryonic stem cells means they can differentiate into any cell type in the body, which is crucial for regenerative medicine. This characteristic allows researchers to potentially create specific cell types needed for repairing damaged tissues or organs. For example, if a patient suffers from heart disease, embryonic stem cells could be developed into heart muscle cells that could then be transplanted into the damaged area, promoting healing and recovery.
• Discuss the ethical concerns associated with the use of embryonic stem cells and how these concerns influence research policies.
  • Ethical concerns regarding embryonic stem cell research mainly revolve around the moral status of embryos and the debate over whether it is acceptable to destroy them for scientific purposes. These concerns have led to varying research policies across countries, impacting funding, regulation, and the direction of scientific inquiry. Researchers often face restrictions that limit their access to embryonic stem cell lines, which can hinder advancements in potential therapies and treatments.
• Evaluate how advancements like induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) may change the landscape of research and therapy related to embryonic stem cells.
  • Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) represent a significant advancement in the field of stem cell research by allowing scientists to reprogram adult somatic cells to behave like embryonic stem cells. This development addresses many ethical issues associated with using embryonic stem cells since iPSCs do not require the destruction of embryos. As iPSCs continue to be refined, they may provide similar therapeutic benefits without the associated moral dilemmas, potentially leading to increased funding and public support for research aimed at treating various diseases and injuries.

Related terms

Pluripotency: The characteristic of embryonic stem cells that allows them to differentiate into any cell type, except for extra-embryonic tissues.

Somatic stem cells: Stem cells found in adult tissues that are limited in their ability to differentiate compared to embryonic stem cells, typically giving rise to specific cell types.

Therapeutic cloning: A process used to create embryonic stem cells by cloning an organism's somatic cells, aiming to produce cells that are genetically identical to the donor for medical use.