Human Embryonic Stem Cells
October 2, 2007

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I. The Breakthrough: Derivation of hES Cells

 

A review: Human embryonic development, days 1-5...

 

Definitions: Please look up before class..(homework!).

Zygote -

Morula -

Blastula -

Gastrula -

The politically charged words...

Embryo:

Fetus:

Human Embryonic Stem cell research hit the press in November 1998 with the simultaneous publications on the isolation of human embryonic stem (hES) cells derived from two different labs.

 

UW - Madison Press Release: Wisconsin scientists culture elusive embryonic stem cells

James A. Thomson, "Embryonic stem cell lines derived from human blastocysts." Science: 1998 282:1145.

 

What did Thompson report about these cells? Findings [Homework!]:

 

1. Source of Cells:

2. Procedure:

3. Analysis:

4. Rationale

5. last line:

 

 

Simultaneously, John's Hopkins Press Release: Hopkins Research Team Cultures Long-Awaited Human Embryonic Stem Cells

• John Gearhart, "Derivation of pluripotent stem cells from cultured human primordial germ cells" Derived hPG / hEG cells (human primordial germ cells / embryonic germ cells) from human fetal tissue (5-9 weeks gestation) PNAS: 1998 95 (23): 13726–13731,
  

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II. Characteristics of Human Embryonic Stem Cells: 4 amazing properties...what are they?

 

1.

2.

3.

4.

 

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III. Funding: ...Not the Federal Government (President...?)!

The work for both papers was funded in 1996 by the biotechnology company, Geron, Menlo Park CA.

Pres and CEO Thomas Okarma, MD, PhD, formerly of Stanford University School of Medicine: "Geron is focused on developing products to treat age-related degenerative diseases. The availability of hES cells opens extraordinary opportunities for tissue transplantation, and for developing cell and gene therapy products with breakthrough medical potential. Further, Geron's proprietary telomerase technology for prolonging the replicative lifespan of cells derived from hES cells positions the company to potentially supply the preferred cells for transplantation medicine."

Any Patents held by Geron...oh, just a few here and there......(please look up and list names here)

1. US Patent 5,843,780: (12/01/98)

2. US Patent 6,093,809: (7/25/00)

3. US Patent 6,147,276: (11/14/00)

4. US Patent No: 6,800,480: (10/5/04) Country: US

Well, nice that Geron has the whole field ...

Other Embryonic Stem Cell Biotech companies Advanced Cell Technology  and Curis

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IV. Potential Benefits of hES to Science and Medicine

1. Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation.

 

 

 

2. Pharmaceutical research and development.

3. Human reproductive and developmental biology.

Want to see what research is being done, and recent advances in stem cell research? Take a look!

1. Stem Cell news
2. Stem Cells/Stem Cell Transplantation

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V. Ethical Issues in hES Cells Quotes from AAAS link

Groups Supporting Embryonic Stem Cell Research: No surprises here

Groups Opposed to Embryonic Stem Cell Research: No surprises here either

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VI. What about Adult Stem Cells?

 

...This topic will be done next, by Dr. Merv Yoder
NIH - Adult Stem Cells... - and Differences between hES cells and Adult stem cells

 

Biotech companies Researching Adult Stem Cells:

COMPANY	LOCATION	STEM CELL TYPE
Aastrom Biosciences	Ann Arbor, MI	Blood
Curis	Cambridge, MA	Blood, skin, nerve
Dendreon	Seattle, WA	Immune
Advanced Cell Technology	Worcester, MA	Blood, organs, (cloning)
Osiris Therapeutics	Baltimore, MD	Bone marrow
StemCells	Sunnyvale, CA	Brain, liver, blood, pancreas

Wondering what to do with Baby's Cord Blood? Umbilical stem cells

 

Upcoming readings... The Politics of Stem Cells

1. Oct 13, 2006: California Stem-Cell Institute Unveils 10-Year Plan
2. Embryonic Stem Cell Research: July 14, 2004 HHS and Presiden't Bush's policies
3. The Politics of Stem Cells This is a nice sumary of the history of hES research/ stem cell legislation.
4. 'U.S. federal stem cell legislation'

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Objectives:

1. What were the major findings and conclusions from Thonpson's 1998 paper? (Briefly, how was Gearhart's paper different)?
2. What are the 4 characteristics of hES cells that make them a unique and useful human tissue?
3. Explain the role of GERON in the development of hES cells, and describe their 4 major patents.
4. List the 3 main uses of hES cells in medicine and science. Give specific examples of tissue types.
5. Explain the difference between totipotent and pleuripotent. Are hES cells totipotent or pleuripotent?
6. What are adult stem cells, and what are some of their benefits and limitations ? .
7. Describe the differences between hES cells and Adult setm cells / MAPCs. ?

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Schedule