Human Embryonic Stem Cells
October 28, 2009

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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.

 

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

Some other tools in the Geron Pipeline: (Clinical Development)

Cancer programs (Telomerase):	Stem Cell Programs
GRN163L: Telomerase Inhibitor GRNVAC1: Telomerase Cancer Vaccine Telomerase Plus test: Screening / monitoring test for bladder cancer	GRNOPC1 (Glial cells) Stem Cell Programs : Spinal Cord Injury GRNCM1 (Cardiomyocytes) Stem Cell Programs : Heart Disease GRNIPC1 (Islet Cells) Stem Cell Programs : Diabetes

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?

 

 

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

 

 

11/21/07: Stem Cell News! New Stem Cell Method Could Ease Ethical ConcernsTwo teams (Shinya Yamanaka et al. and James Thompson et al.) report refinements to the iPS story...with HUMAN cells!
[PDF - Yamanaka, Cell][PDF - Thompson, Science](in advance of print)
My vote for "THE" scientific news of 2007!

 

Brave New World: In this Week's Nature: (and likely to be on the EXAM!)

Asymmetric centrosome inheritance maintains neural progenitors in the neocortex
X Wang Song-Hai Shi et al Nature 15 October 2009

 

News & Views: Stem Cells: A fateful age gap
Tim Stearns

 

 

 

 

 

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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 ? .

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