1. How are they related to Cell Cycle?
Stem Cells and Cancer
How are they related to Cell Cycle?

2. What are stem Cells?
Cells that can develop into many different types of cells - differentiation
Cells that can multiply as they go through the cell cycle and divide
Every cell “stems” from this type of cell
Stem cells lie dormant in many of your tissues and can spring to life to renew, repair organs in case of cell death or injury

3. Types of Stem Cells
Totipotent: Embryonic cells that can become any cell in body (Toti= total potential)
Pluripotent: 7 days after fertilization- fetal stage. Cells can become almost any cell in the body (Pluri = more)
Multipotent: Umbilical cord and many adult stem cells can develop into many types of cells (range is limited) Ex: Bone marrow cells
Let’s review
Pluripotent: Cells from ectoderm can become any tissue that arises from that cells mass. Same as for mesoderm and endoderm
Video = 7 min.

4. Potentials of Stem Cell research
To cure diseases and/or to replace repair damaged tissue or organs by rewiring existing stem cells or transplanting stem cells
Ex Parkinson’s disease
Best type of stem cells for this?
People who have Parkinson's disease experience difficulty with movement, balance and speech. These problems result from the death of specialized brain cells called dopamine neurons. These cells produce dopamine, a chemical that helps control muscle movements. The effects of the disease can be treated with drugs that help increase dopamine in the brain, but there is no known cure. Researchers studying Parkinson's disease knew that the problem was to replace the dead dopamine neurons with healthy dopamine-producing cells.
Pluripotent cells are the best but where can you get them from? From an embryo – hence the usefulness of embryos that are left after In vitro fert. treatments

5. Ethical, Legal and Social of Stem Cell research
Is it morally right to work with embryos left over from IVF – What is it to become human?
Should this type of research be under a legal watch dog? What are the potentials of illegal/inhumane uses
How will this effect society as a whole?

6. How has this worked to date?
Leukemia can be treated with adult bone marrow cells and rates of cure are high
Umbilical cord blood cells have the potential to cure diabetes, heart brain and other tissues
Retinal stem cells to cure blindness
New Organs?

7. What is Cancer?
Normal cells know when to divide and when to stop cell division
When cells divide out of control they may become a mass of cells called tumor
Tumors are benign – cells stay in original tissue and often do not cause harm
or malignant – cells break away and spread to different parts of the body
Cancer results when the mass of cells interfere with the normal function of the organ or body as a result of uncontrolled cell division

8. How does one get cancer?
Genetic mutation that is hereditary or a result of mutation caused by environmental factors (carcinogen) Most cancers are a combination of both Ex: skin cancer is related to UV exposure and family tree Breast Cancer/Prostrate: hereditary and environment Lung cancer – mutations in lung tissue due to tar in cigarettes Also: excessive radiation, car exhausts, asbestos, arsenic, excessive alcohol

9. Treatment
Surgery
Radiation therapy – use of radioactive elements to target the cancer cells and destroy them
Chemotherapy – use of drugs to target the cancer cells ex. Drugs that do not allow spindle fibers to form or not allow them to function.
How will this effect other cells?
Why are some side effects of cancer therapy hair loss, nausea and weakness?