Stem Cells in Medicine

• What is the main focus of the video discussed?

  The use of stem cells in medicine
• How can stem cells be used to treat conditions like diabetes and paralysis?


  By replacing faulty cells with properly working cells
• What are the two important features of stem cells?

  They can divide by mitosis and differentiate into specialized cells
• What are the two main types of stem cells mentioned?

  Embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells
• Where are embryonic stem cells found?


  In the early embryo
• What can embryonic stem cells differentiate into?


  Any type of specialized cell
• Where are adult stem cells found?


  In the bone marrow of people of all ages
• What can adult stem cells differentiate into?


  Different types of blood cells
• What causes type 1 diabetes?


  Damage to the pancreas cells that produce insulin
• What is paralysis sometimes caused by?


  Damaged nerve cells
• What causes sickle cell anemia?


  Misshapen red blood cells
• What is the basic idea behind using stem cells in medicine?


  To replace faulty cells with properly working cells
• How do scientists typically extract embryonic stem cells?


  From early embryos
• What is done to embryonic stem cells after they are extracted?


  They are grown in a laboratory and stimulated to differentiate
• How can embryonic stem cells be used to treat a diabetic patient?


  By differentiating them into pancreas cells that produce insulin
• What could be done to treat someone for paralysis using stem cells?


  Produce healthy nerve cells from embryonic stem cells
• How could stem cells be used to treat sickle cell anemia?


  By differentiating them into healthy blood cells
• What is a drawback of using embryonic stem cells?


  They have a limited supply and raise ethical issues
• Why might a patient's immune system reject stem cells?


  Because the embryo and the patient have different genomes
• How can the risk of immune rejection be reduced?


  By giving the patient medications to suppress their immune system
• What is an alternative to using embryonic stem cells?


  Using adult stem cells
• What is a benefit of using adult stem cells?


  They can be taken from the patient themselves, reducing rejection risk
• What is a limitation of adult stem cells?


  They can only differentiate into different types of blood cells
• What are two potential risks involved with using stem cells?


  Virus transmission and tumor development
• What does virus transmission refer to in the context of stem cell use?


  The risk of transferring an infection from donor stem cells to the patient
• What is tumor development in relation to stem cells?


  The risk that stem cells could divide uncontrollably and form a tumor
• What is the ethical objection to using embryonic stem cells?


  That human embryos have the potential for human life
• What do some people believe is more important than the rights of embryos?


  The benefits of curing existing people who are suffering
• What is an important point to remember about the embryos used in research?


  They are usually unwanted embryos from fertility clinics
• How is embryonic stem cell research regulated in the UK?


  It is legal but tightly controlled with strict rules
• What are the main steps in using stem cells to treat medical conditions?


  1. Extract stem cells (embryonic or adult)
  2. Grow them in a laboratory
  3. Stimulate differentiation into specialized cells
  4. Inject the specialized cells into the patient
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of using embryonic versus adult stem cells?


  Strengths of embryonic stem cells:

  • Can differentiate into any type of cell
  • Potential for treating a wide range of conditions

  
  

  Weaknesses of embryonic stem cells:

  • Limited supply
  • Ethical concerns
  • Risk of immune rejection

  
  

  Strengths of adult stem cells:

  • Easy to obtain
  • Lower risk of rejection

  
  

  Weaknesses of adult stem cells:

  • Limited differentiation potential
• What are the potential risks associated with stem cell therapy?


  • Virus transmission from donor cells
  • Tumor development due to uncontrolled cell division