Stem cells Breakthrough + other cells videos

1-.Why are stem cells considered so valuable for medical research?

Steam cells are considered valuable because they have the capacity of transforming into any of the 200 different cells the human body has. Because of this capacity, steam cells can be used to heal many diseases such as spinal cord problems or diabetes.

2-.Why did the researchers have to narrow the spectrum of genes within stem cells?

They needed to find the specific genes that triggered the generation of steam cells, so they could be able to activate the DNA of a skin cell, for example, and produce a steam cell.

3-.What are the sources of stem cells and the advantages and disadvantages associated with using each?

There are two sources of steam cells. The first one is by harvesting cells from embryos, the cells that result of this process are very flexible, this means that cells can be easily changed to another kind of cell (pluripotent). The problem of this way of acquiring cells is that an embryo must be killed to achieve de process.

The second way is to transform regular cells into steam cells by activating certain gens. This is a very effective way because no harm is inflicted to the person, but the resulting steam cells are less flexible than the others.

4-.What are the three cases presented at the beginning of the second video?

There are three cases presented, these are: a diabetic man, two girls with a genetic problem and a hockey player with a damaged spinal cord.

5-.How might a stem cell be used to treat spinal cord injuries?

Doctors create a bridge of steam cells that connect both parts of the spinal cord, this makes the cells connect both edges of the bridge generating a new spinal cord.

6-.Explain the outcome of the experiment with injured rats presented in the second video?

Laboratory rats that had a damaged spinal cord, were healed by a doctor by using the bridge technology. This resulted in a walking rat

7-.What issues surround the debate over of stem cell research?

There are some serious ethic issues to be solve, mainly a debate of when does life start.

8-.What issue do you think needs to be debated as we make decisions about stem cell research?

I think we must debate about the ethic consequences of all this procedures, and also we must generate a certain code of rules for the experimentation (one does not simply plays to be god).