Tissue culture

• What can stem cells be used for in tissue cultures?

  • Grow new (identical) plants
  • Grow new organs or skin
  • Grow thin layers of cells for research
• What are the advantages to stem cells being used in tissue culture?

  • Organs can be grown without being rejected
  • No need for a donor
  • Stem cells can be used to produce any cells
  • Allows scientists to study cells outside the body
  • Stem cells may be used to treat disease that don't yet a treatments
  • Allows identical plants to be produced quickly
• What are the disadvantages of stem cells being used in tissue culture?

  • Stem cells may continue to divide leading to cancer
  • All plants grown from tissue cultures are identical so less resistant to disease
  • Some people see embryos as living
  • Stem cell replacement may not function properly in the body
  • Embryonic stem cells may be used (if not in research) to produce life
• How can tissue cultures be carried out?

  Take a sample containing stem cell tissue
• How can tissue cultures be carried out?

  1. Take a sample contains stem cell tissue

  2. Place in agar plate containing nutrients

  
  

  3. Treat with hormones to cause differentiation (e.g.- growing roots)

  
  

  4. Once grown, then can be used (e.g.- grown in soul for plants)