Draft Reflection:

After writing this draft I think the main thing I did well was keeping the language easy to

understand and defining key terms that were not simple English. There were many challenges for

me when I was writing this draft; however, the main challenge was trying to ingest all the

scientific phrasing and procedures and paraphrasing it in simple English. The single big question

I would want the reader of my draft to answer would be, did you understand the definition, and

would you use it as a source?

Dorian Brito

English 363

Dr. Bruce

Stem cell –
Stem cells are unspecialized (not anatomically or physiologically prepared to serve a specific

purpose in the body) cells that have the potential to differentiate (change or morph through

maturation and specific signals into specialized cell types) into a selection of specialized

(anatomically and physiologically prepared to serve a specific purpose in the body) cell types

including muscle cells, blood cells, osteoblasts (bone cell), and brain cells. Stem cells are found

in tissues of living organisms and aid in the repair of damaged tissue, through cell division stem

cells are able to divide into other unspecialized stem cells or can be specialized to fit a specific

role in the body. Stem cells divide

regularly in organs such as the bone marrow and

the gut replenishing and reinvigorating the tissues

in the body. Additionally, specific organs such as

the heart and the pancreas require specific factors

Figure 1.1 Diagram that illustrates the types of cells that a stem cell

or conditions in order to activate the stem cells to can differentiate into. Fournier (2019)

begin their regenerative process. Therein lies the ecrets behind stem cells that scientists are

researching in order to unlock the full potential of stem cells for use in regenerative medicine.

There are two distinct types of stem cells found in mammals, which are embryonic stem cells

(non-matured stem cells) which are derived from early stages (3 to 5 days old) of a blastocysts’
inner cell mass; furthermore, these embryonic stem cells are pluripotent (possess the ability to

divide into other stem cells or change into any specialized cells). Second there are somatic stem

cells (adult stem cells) which are found in most adult tissues, mainly derived from bone marrow

or fat. The ability that stem cells possess to differentiate into other specialized cells has led to

many promising regenerative medicines opportunities; mainly looking at treating diseases such

as diabetes and heart disease. Stem cells naturally inhibit an anti-inflammatory response in the

body when present, therefore it is a great way for scientists to study diseases.

Embryonic Stem cells

Embryonic stem cells are stem cells derived from the blastocyst stage of an embryo (early stage

of a developing organism) that are mostly grown in-vitro (referring to a process outside a living

organism, usually done in a test tube or culture dish) and are not taken from

eggs that have been fertilized in a woman’s womb. “Human

embryonic stem (ES) cells capture the imagination because they

are immortal and have an almost unlimited developmental

potential.” (Yu and Thomson, 2020). Embryonic stem cells have

the most promise in regenerative medicine due to the fact that

they not only possess the ability to differentiate into any

specialized cell in the body but also can maintain their ability to

proliferate into any specialized cell in the body after an extensive

amount of time being cultured (grown) on a dish. It is normally

Figure 1.2 Human Embryonic derivation process.
Winslow (2006)
around day 5 of development where the outside layer of cells in
a blastocyst will differentiate into becoming part of the placenta and separates from the inner cell

mass (ICM), it is from the inner cell mass that embryonic stem cells are harvested to be used for

research and regenerative medicine.

Somatic stem cells

Somatic stem cells (adult stem cells) are undifferentiated stem cells that are found in small

portions in differentiated adult tissues, which sole purpose is to repair and replenish the tissues

they are found in. Like embryonic stem cells, somatic stem cells are capable of preserving their

ability to proliferate (divide and increase in numbers) for a substantial amount of time in culture.

However, somatic stem cells are limited in the types of specialization they can differentiate into.

Somatic stem cells are the primary form of stem cells used by scientists for research and

regenerative medicine due to that fact that there is less stigma behind the idea of not destroying

an embryo to harvest stem cells; somatic stem cells can be found in a variety of adult organs and

tissues including, heart, gut, liver, fat, skeletal muscle, peripheral blood, brain, blood vessels,

bone marrow, skin, liver, teeth, testis, ovarian epithelium, and found in cord blood.

Identifying somatic stem cells is done with the use of tagging them with molecular markers that

are antibodies tagged with a fluorochrome (fluorescent chemical that lights up when hit by a

specific spectrum of light, usually in the form of a laser) these antibodies are specific markers

that attach to the stem cells and with the use of lasers from a flow cytometer can identify what

cells are tagged. Additionally, a culture of somatic stem cells is able to be started and exposed to

specific factors that induce the stem cells to differentiate into specific specialized cells.
Types of somatic stem cells include hematopoietic stem cells which can differentiate into all

types of blood cells. Mesenchymal stem cells which can differentiate into supportive tissue cells

like bone cells, fat cells, and cartilage cells. Neural stem cells are found in the brain and can

differentiate into neurons.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs)

Induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) are somatic stem cells (adult stem cells) that have been

genetically modified to become embryonic stem cells. Though, induced pluripotent stem cells

technically fit the criteria for embryonic stem cells, research has not yet showed that they are

characteristically the same.

Properties

1.) Have the ability to divide multiple times while keeping its unspecialized form.

2.) Have the ability to differentiate into a variety of specialized cells in the body.

3.) Have the ability to be induced (manipulated to change) with the proper conditions to

differentiate into a desired specialized cell.

For the future

Stem cells and regenerative medicine once unlocked will skyrocket human healthcare to un-

imaginary heights. The key to making stem cells an efficient medicine is to discover the exact

conditions that are needed to induce an unspecialized stem cell into a desired specialized cell.

Additionally, learning what condition are best for growing the cells in culture will better

optimize the availability for the medicine. Many diseases are associated with inflammation of
specific tissues and organs, and with stems cells natural ability to induce an anti-inflammatory

response in the body the potential use of stem cells in medicine goes beyond only regenerative.
 Glossary
1.) Specialized – Referring to stem cells, anatomically and physiologically prepared to

serve a specific purpose in the body.

2.) Unspecialized – Referring to stem cells, not anatomically or physiologically prepared

to serve a specific purpose in the body.

3.) Differentiation – Process in which a cell becomes specialized in order to serve a

specific function in the body.

4.) Osteoblasts – Bone cell, specialized cell that secretes the matrix for bone formation.

5.) Embryonic stem cell – non matured stem cell usually derived from an in-vitro

fertilized embryos’ inner cell mass.

6.) Pluripotent – The ability possessed by a stem cell to transform and give rise to a

variety of different specialized cell types.

7.) Somatic stem cell – Adult stem cell derived from adult tissues; they are unspecialized

cells that are surrounded by specialized cells that make up the adult tissue.

8.) Embryo – Early stage after fertilization of an egg of a developing organism.

9.) In-vitro - Referring to a process outside a living organism, usually done in a test tube

or culture dish.

10.) Cultured – Referring to the process of growing and expanding the numbers of cells,

usually in a culture dish.

11.) Inner cell mass (ICM) – The mass of unspecialized immature cells found inside the

blastocyst stage of a fertilized developing embryo.

12.) Proliferate – The ability that cells have to divide.

13.) Fluorochrome - Fluorescent chemical that lights up when hit by a specific spectrum

of light, usually in the form of a laser.

14.) Induce – Referring to the process of artificially influencing the specialization of an

unspecialized cell.

15.) Hematopoietic stem cell – Referring to stem cells that focus on specializing into any

type of blood cell.

16.) Mesenchymal stem cell – Referring to stem cells that focus on specializing into any

type of supportive tissue cell.

17.) Neural stem cell – Referring to stem cells that are found in the brain and focus on

specializing into any type of neuron.

References:
1.) Yu, J. and Thomson, J. (2020). Embryonic Stem Cells | stemcells.nih.gov. [online]
Stemcells.nih.gov. Available at:
https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/Regenerative_Medicine/2006Chapter1.htm [Accessed 18
Feb. 2020].
2.) Mayo Clinic. (2020). Frequently asked questions about stem cell research. [online]
Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/in-
depth/stem-cells/art-20048117 [Accessed 19 Feb. 2020].
3.) Isscr.org. (2020). International Society for Stem Cell Research. [online] Available at:
https://www.isscr.org/ [Accessed 19 Feb. 2020].
4.) Sarvestani, A. (2020). Stem Cell Therapy: What’s Real and What’s Not at California’s
For-Profit Clinics. [online] Stem Cell Therapy: What’s Real and What’s Not at
California’s For-Profit Clinics | UC San Francisco. Available at:
https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2019/11/415811/stem-cell-therapy-whats-real-and-whats-not-
californias-profit-clinics [Accessed 19 Feb. 2020].
 Evaluating Your Sources
Sources
#2: Mayo Clinic
(https://www.mayoclinic #4: UCSF
.org/tests- (https://www.ucsf.edu/n
Criteria procedures/bone- ews/2019/11/415811/ste
#1: NIH marrow-transplant/in- m-cell-therapy-whats-
(https://stemcells.nih.go depth/stem-cells/art- #3: ISSCR real-and-whats-not-
v/info/basics/1.htm) 20048117) (https://www.isscr.org/) californias-profit-clinics)
This source is both relevant to This source is relevant because
Relevance: (e.g., accomplish the purpose of it goes into detail about what
tangentially related vs. defining what Stem Cells are stem cells are, where they are They have a local understanding
essential to your subject) and in helping the general derived, the differences and explanation of how stem
public learn and understand between the different types, This organization specialized in cell work is being handled in
the what Stem Cells are. and what they are used for all stem cell research. california.

Timeliness: (e.g., old, sort

of recent, happening This source was last cited in
now) 2020 and is a recent piece with The piece was written on
current information on the They have current information November 1, 2019 a bit out of
topic. This source is up to date. on testing with stem cells. date but still relevant.

The information is under the

Authority: (e.g., expert or U.S. Department of Health and
amateur audience, biased Human Services, and provided
or balanced) by the National Institutes of
Health. The webcite is under The source is reputable It’s an organization that is
the domain ".gov". organization. based on all stem cell research. They are a university.

There is plenty of introduction

Evidence: (e.g., plentiful information on what stem cells Not only do they have
or limited, types, sources are, what their signficance is to information that they They have a variety of
identified or not) the medical field, how they discovered on their own but information on the medical They have unbaised real world
work, and the sources they are they link to other potential promises of stem cells and the data on how stem cells are
derived from. sources. current studys being done. being used and handled.
 Post write up:

When writing this definition, the three definition strategies I used were, graphics and

pictures, defining key terms, and simple English. I used graphics that illustrate the process in a

diagram to break down each step for the reader to better understand the words in the definition

and fill in any blanks that the language left out. I highlighted key terms in a different color and

briefly defined them in parenthesis so the reader could follow along with the flow of the

definition. Finally, I used simple English and did not get into the technical side of the biology of

all the mechanisms that are involved when working with stem cells. I Both defined the terms and

used simple English all throughout the definition.

Acknowledgments

Jacqueline Peralta gave me the best feedback, I realized that a glossary would be
beneficial for the reader of my definition to have all the key terms highlighted in one space.
I put a lot of thought into the organization of my definition with the focus that it will help the
reader, and Jacqueline confirmed that I was successful at accomplishing this.