Senior Seminar
Dr. Vincent Gallicchio
Dory Askins
9/21/16
The Potential Use of Stem Cells To Treat Burn Victims
ABSTRACT
Extensive burns are devastating and if there is a way that we could use what our body already produces to help rebuild, wouldn’t that be wonderful? Stem cells allow us to regenerate a product that is just as good as the original. However, there are ethical issues with this treatment.
INTRODUCTION
A little bit of background on stem cells; they are defined as an undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism that is capable of giving rise to an unlimited number of cells of the same type. Then, more kinds of cells can arise from them by differentiation. So, stem cells have the amazing potential to develop into various …show more content…
Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that are developed from in vitro fertilized eggs (not derived from eggs that are fertilized in a woman’s body). If the embryonic stem cells are allowed to clump together, they start differentiating spontaneously. These stem cells can form many different cell types, such as muscle cells, nerve cells, and others. Scientists can attempt to control the differentiation of the embryonic stem cells by inserting specific genes into the cells, changing the culture medium, or the culture dish. Over time, some plans for controlling the differentiation of embryonic stem cells have been defined. In the future, if researchers can reliably direct differentiation of embryonic stem cells into what they want, they might be able to treat different kinds of diseases (1). Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells that exist with differentiated cells in organs or tissues. These stem cell’s roles are to repair and/or maintain the tissue in which they are found. They can regenerate and differentiate yielding either some or all of the major specialized cells of the organ or tissue that they are found in (1). Researchers are currently trying to determine whether or not adult stem cells would be suitable …show more content…
There are already stem cells existing in adult tissue ready to repair cells following certain stress signals. Regenerative medicine looks at accelerating this process after burn injury. There is the possibility of recruiting stem cells localized to the burn or transplanting stem cells to the burn (these are often modified in vitro). A specific type of adult stem cells that might be able to be used to treat burns is adult mesenchymal stem cells. They are derived mainly from bone marrow and adipose tissue, and are therefore readily available in the body. These stem cells have a great potential to be utilized to engineer new
Dr. Vincent Gallicchio
Dory Askins
9/21/16
The Potential Use of Stem Cells To Treat Burn Victims
ABSTRACT
Extensive burns are devastating and if there is a way that we could use what our body already produces to help rebuild, wouldn’t that be wonderful? Stem cells allow us to regenerate a product that is just as good as the original. However, there are ethical issues with this treatment.
INTRODUCTION
A little bit of background on stem cells; they are defined as an undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism that is capable of giving rise to an unlimited number of cells of the same type. Then, more kinds of cells can arise from them by differentiation. So, stem cells have the amazing potential to develop into various …show more content…
Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that are developed from in vitro fertilized eggs (not derived from eggs that are fertilized in a woman’s body). If the embryonic stem cells are allowed to clump together, they start differentiating spontaneously. These stem cells can form many different cell types, such as muscle cells, nerve cells, and others. Scientists can attempt to control the differentiation of the embryonic stem cells by inserting specific genes into the cells, changing the culture medium, or the culture dish. Over time, some plans for controlling the differentiation of embryonic stem cells have been defined. In the future, if researchers can reliably direct differentiation of embryonic stem cells into what they want, they might be able to treat different kinds of diseases (1). Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells that exist with differentiated cells in organs or tissues. These stem cell’s roles are to repair and/or maintain the tissue in which they are found. They can regenerate and differentiate yielding either some or all of the major specialized cells of the organ or tissue that they are found in (1). Researchers are currently trying to determine whether or not adult stem cells would be suitable …show more content…
There are already stem cells existing in adult tissue ready to repair cells following certain stress signals. Regenerative medicine looks at accelerating this process after burn injury. There is the possibility of recruiting stem cells localized to the burn or transplanting stem cells to the burn (these are often modified in vitro). A specific type of adult stem cells that might be able to be used to treat burns is adult mesenchymal stem cells. They are derived mainly from bone marrow and adipose tissue, and are therefore readily available in the body. These stem cells have a great potential to be utilized to engineer new