Reproductive Genetics and Stem cells
Identify the essential characteristics of stem cells
Stem cells – A ‘founder’ cell that can generate tissues, organs or organisms. They are Rare, Self-
renewable, Unspecialised, and can differentiate.
Understand stem cell potencies
Totipotent – can form all the cell types in a body, plus the extraembryonic, or placental, cells. E.g.
Embryonic cells within the first couple of divisions after fertilisation are the only cells that are
totipotent.
Pluripotent – can give rise to all of the cells types that make up the body; embryonic stem cells are
considered pluripotent.
Multipotent – can develop into more than one cell type but are more limited than pluripotent cells;
adult stem cells and cord blood stem cells are considered multipotent.
Unipotent – capable of giving rise to only one cell type.
Mature – are undifferentiated cells found throughout the body that divide to replenish dying cells
and regenerate damaged tissues.
Explain stem cell use in research
• Identify drug targets and test potential therapeutics
• Toxicity testing
• Study cell differentiation tissues/cells for transplantation
• Understanding prevention and treatments of birth defects
• Grow new cells in a lab to replace damaged organs or tissues
• Correct parts of organs that don’t work properly
• Research causes of genetic defects in cells
• Research how diseases occur or why certain cells develop into cancer cells
• Test new drugs for safety and effectiveness
Consider the ethical implications associated with stem cell research
Opponents
- believe that an embryo is a living human being. They don’t think the fertilized eggs should be
used for research. They argue that the embryo should have the same rights as every other
human and that these rights should be protected.
Supporters
- believe that the embryos are not yet humans. They note that researchers receive consent
from the donor couple whose eggs and sperm were used to create the embryo. Supporters
also argue that the fertilized eggs created during in-vitro fertilization would be discarded
anyway, so they might be put to better use for scientific research.
Identify the essential characteristics of stem cells
Stem cells – A ‘founder’ cell that can generate tissues, organs or organisms. They are Rare, Self-
renewable, Unspecialised, and can differentiate.
Understand stem cell potencies
Totipotent – can form all the cell types in a body, plus the extraembryonic, or placental, cells. E.g.
Embryonic cells within the first couple of divisions after fertilisation are the only cells that are
totipotent.
Pluripotent – can give rise to all of the cells types that make up the body; embryonic stem cells are
considered pluripotent.
Multipotent – can develop into more than one cell type but are more limited than pluripotent cells;
adult stem cells and cord blood stem cells are considered multipotent.
Unipotent – capable of giving rise to only one cell type.
Mature – are undifferentiated cells found throughout the body that divide to replenish dying cells
and regenerate damaged tissues.
Explain stem cell use in research
• Identify drug targets and test potential therapeutics
• Toxicity testing
• Study cell differentiation tissues/cells for transplantation
• Understanding prevention and treatments of birth defects
• Grow new cells in a lab to replace damaged organs or tissues
• Correct parts of organs that don’t work properly
• Research causes of genetic defects in cells
• Research how diseases occur or why certain cells develop into cancer cells
• Test new drugs for safety and effectiveness
Consider the ethical implications associated with stem cell research
Opponents
- believe that an embryo is a living human being. They don’t think the fertilized eggs should be
used for research. They argue that the embryo should have the same rights as every other
human and that these rights should be protected.
Supporters
- believe that the embryos are not yet humans. They note that researchers receive consent
from the donor couple whose eggs and sperm were used to create the embryo. Supporters
also argue that the fertilized eggs created during in-vitro fertilization would be discarded
anyway, so they might be put to better use for scientific research.
