Stem

Cells
Anila
Habib
Roll # 67
Contents
What are stem Cells ?
Unique properties of stem cells
Types of stem cells
Sources of stem cells
Difference between ESCs & ASCs
Why are Stem Cells so very important?
Potential uses of stem cells
The Controversy over Stem Cells?
 What are stem
cells ?
ØWhich have potential to
regenerate over a life time .
ØThey have the remarkable
potential to develop into many
different types in the body
during early life and growth .
What are properties of
stem cells ?
• They can divide and make identical copies
of themselves over and over again (Self-
Renewal)

• stem cells are Unspecialized .

• stem cells can give rise to Specialized

Types of stem cells
ØTotipotent
ØPluripotent
ØMultipotent
ØOligopotent
ØUnipotent
Sources Of Stem
Cells
ØEmbryonic stem cells
ØAdult stem cells
ØFetal stem cells
 Embryonic stem
cells
ØDerive from embryos
Ødevelop from eggs that have
been fertilized in vitro
ØDerive from 4 or 5 days old
embryo
ØHollow microscopic ball of
cells (blastocyst)
 Adult Stem Cells
ØRefer to any cell division
which is found in any
developed organism .

Ø ability to divide and create

another cell like itself

Ø Divide and create a cell

more differentiated than itself
Where the Adult Stem Cells
are found ?

ØSkin
ØBone marrow
ØBrain
ØBlood vessels
ØLiver
ØSkeletal muscles
 Fetal Stem Cells
Primitive cell types found in
the organs of fetus
Advantages and
Disadvantages to Embryonic
and Adult Stem Cells.
 Why is Stem Cell
Research So Important
to All of Us?
üStem cells allow us to study how organisms
grow and develop over time.
üStem cells can replace diseased or
damaged cells that can not heal or renew
themselves.
üWe can test different substances (drugs and
chemicals) on stem cells.
üWe can get a better understanding of our
“genetic machinery.”
What Human Diseases
are Currently Being
Treated with Stem Cells?
ØParkinson’s Disease
ØLeukemia (Bone Marrow
Transplants)
ØSkin Grafts resulting from
severe burns

Stem Cell Therapy has the

Potential to:
ØRegenerate tissues/organs
ØCure diseases like
diabetes, multiple sclerosis,
etc.
Why the Controversy Over Stem cells
ØEmbryonic Stem cells are
derived from extra
blastocysts
ØExtracting stem cells
destroys the developing
blastocyst (embryo).
Thank
You