Biology Workshops

First to know is the localization of these in the body which is on the multicellular organisms. They have the ability to renew themselves through meiotic cell division and differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cell types. (Tottipotent, Pitipotent, multipotent, unipotent and Nullipotent)

Most Important Characteristic

Stem cells differ from other kinds of cells in the body. All stem cells regardless of their source have three general properties: they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods; they are unspecialized; and they can give rise to specialized cell types. But he main characteristic is that stem Stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods. Unlike muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells.

Therapeutic

It changes the treatment of human disease. Therapeutically for bone morrow transplants to treat leukemia, "may" cancer, Parkinson `s disease, spinal cord injuries, anyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple selectorosis and muscle damage. Stem cells can now be grown and transformed into specialized cells with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues, such as muscles or nerves through cell culture. Highly plastic adult stem cells from a variety of sources, including the umbilical cord blood and bone marrow, are used in medical therapies. Stem cells, directed to differentiate into specific cell types, offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases including Alzheimer's diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Risks

The mainly risk stem cells function has, is that transplanted stem cells could form tumors and have the possibility of becoming cancerous if cell division continues uncontrollably. Other risks are:

Stem cell (graft) failure
Organ damage
Cataracts
Secondary cancers
Death

Benefits of Therapeutic

It provides medical benefits in the fields of therapeutic cloning and regenerative medicine.

It provides great potential for discovering treatments and cures to a plethora of diseases including Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Cancer, spinal cord injuries, diabetes and many more.

Limbs and organs could be grown in a lab from stem cells and then used in transplants or to help treat illnesses.

It will help scientists to learn about human growth and cell development.

Scientists and doctors will be able to test millions of potential drugs and medicine, without the use of animals or human testers. This necessitates a process of simulating the effect the drug has on a specific population of cells. This would tell if the drug is useful or has any problems.

Stem cell research also benefits the study of development stages that cannot be studied directly in a human embryo, which sometimes are linked with major clinical consequences such as birth defects, pregnancy loss and infertility. A more comprehensive understanding of normal development will ultimately allow the prevention or treatment of abnormal human development.

Another advantage of stem cell research is that it holds the key to reversing the effects of aging and prolonging our lives. Stem cell research has already found many treatments that help slow the aging process, and a bonus of further stem cell research is a possible ‘cure’ for aging altogether.

An advantage of the usage of adult stem cells to treat disease is that a patient’s own cells could be used to treat a patient. Risks would be quite reduced because patients’ bodies would not reject their own cells.

An advantage of using embryonic stem cells is that they can develop into any cell types of the body, and may then be more versatile than adult stem cells.

Who does it helps? What`s it potential?

It helps the scientist to initiate other researches to other problems, some day we`ll find the cure of cancer and many other diseases, tissues, etc. Also it helps the humanity, to survive and long laster. Not only time but in better condition and health. Perhaps the most important potential application of human stem cells is the generation of cells and tissues that could be used for cell-based therapy.

Ethnical Position

It offers huge potential for improving our quality of life but raises ethical and moral questions.
Researchers and practitioners are intrigued and still learning how the body uses these cells to restore and regenerate human tissue. Doctors hope to restore and harness the power of stem cells in efforts to have a human “repair kit.”

Basing on this idea, the answer is that we are in favor. Progress to extend human life, the key of evolution is to find a way to survive diseases which end life.

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Conveys of Information

They first empreriment with stem cells... when the results are given they publice it, for example:

"EXCLUSIVE: WORLD-renowned Melbourne scientist Alan Trounson's $1m stem cell research project is under investigation after it was scrapped for delivering highly doubtful results.

Monash University is examining anomalies in interim findings from the lung regeneration research conducted in its labs with public money.

Prof Trounson -- a doctor of philosophy who was headhunted to run the world's richest stem cell outfit in the US next year -- was the project's principal investigator.

The research was done by a team of about 13 scientists, including postgraduate students, to see how stem cells might help slow lung disease in cystic fibrosis sufferers.

It was stopped in February when the Australian Stem Cell Centre cut funding after a three-week investigation found inconsistencies in multiple progress reports.

The Herald Sun has learned the reports were signed by Prof Trounson and a senior researcher.

Prof Trounson was appointed last month to run the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine's $3.3 billion stem cell research program from San Francisco.

Government departments overseen by federal Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane, Science Minister Julie Bishop and Victoria's Innovation Minister, Gavin Jennings, have been briefed on the matter.

Prof Trounson, who was at his Monash office yesterday, said: "I will not comment on this matter while it is being investigated by the university."

'The ASCC, which hired a top scientist to check the reports, referred its findings to the university last December.

Monash deputy vice-chancellor for research Prof Edwina Cornish's investigative committee has yet to deliver a finding.

Prof Trounson has been questioned, but Monash says he is not being investigated.

Scientists must submit 90-day progress reports to keep grant cash flowing.

The Herald Sun believes lab records contradicted assertions in the reports that said agreed research benchmarks had been met.

ASCC chair Prof Vicki Sara confirmed reporting problems had triggered the funding cut.

"The ASCC undertook an independent assessment of the Adult Stem Cell Lung Regeneration Project in late November 2006, based on detected inconsistencies in the regular reports to the ASCC," she said.

"The matter is now under investigation by Monash University, the host institution for the research and employer of the scientists within the project, and we will await their advice.

Monash University spokesman Tim Mitchell said the investigation into "possible inconsistencies" was continuing and distanced the institution from the research.

"There is no suggestion of research misconduct by Prof Trounson," he said.

It is believed that one researcher is the focus of the investigation.

The project started in August 2005.

When approached by the Herald Sun this week, the researcher believed to be under investigation claimed commercial interests had caused the funding cut.

The ASCC, which Prof Trounson co-founded, is due to receive $115 million in state and federal funding over 10 years until 2011.

Prof Trounson had been a director of the ASCC board with an annual salary package worth $287,000 until June 2006 when he resigned.

He was a driving force behind Australia's first IVF birth in 1980.

His work raised hope stem cells might one day be used to fight disease.

Prof Trounson issued an apology for misleading Parliament in 2002 after he showed MPs a video of a paralysed rat that he said was able to walk after being treated with embryonic stem cells.

It later emerged that a different type of cell – a germ cell – had been used in the treatment."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/top-doctor-in-research-row/story-e6frf7kx-1111114632951

Biology Workshops

Introduction

Stem Cells