GENE and STEM CELL THERAPY bioengineer human lymphocytes for

people with genetically caused

Gene therapy lymphocyte immunity disorders.
is the use of a transplanted gene to cure or • Stem Cell Therapy
treat human genetic disorders and other
human illnesses. • Stem cells

Examples of Gene Therapy biological cells that can differentiate

into other types of cells and can divide
to produce more of the same type of
stem cells.

They are found in multicellular

• This process requires
organisms.
genetically-altered virus
• Stem-cell therapy
(no longer able to replicate)
is the use of stem cells to treat or
and inserted with a functional gene to enter prevent a disease or condition.
a human cell,
• The functional gene codes for the
synthesis of a functional protein
• Treatment of Bone Marrow Aplasia
• Bioengineering Bone Marrow Stem
Cells.
• Some people are born with genetic Types of mammalian stem cells:
disorders like aplasia - non- • embryonic stem cells, from the inner
functional bone marrows (not able cell mass of blastocysts
to undergo erythropoiesis).
• adult stem cells, which are found in
• Some scientists believe that it is various tissues
possible to introduce a normal
functioning gene into stem cells of
red bone marrows and thereafter,
all types of blood cells will produce
functioning enzyme.
• Bioengineering other cell types
• Bioengineering Other Types of
Cells.
• Using the same method described
for bioengineering stem cells, a
retrovirus can also be used to

• Adult Stem Cells sources :
• Bone marrow, extraction from the
femur or iliac crest
• Adipose tissue (fat cells), extraction
by liposuction
• Blood
• Umbilical cord blood just after birth
Bone Marrow Stem Cell Therapy
• Bone marrow transplant is the most
widely used stem-cell therapy, but
some therapies derived from
umbilical cord blood are also in use.
Recent Developments
• Research is underway to develop
various sources for stem cells, as
well as to apply stem-cell treatments
for neurodegenerative diseases and
conditions such as diabetes and
heart disease.
The Controversy
• Stem-cell therapy has become
controversial following developments
such as the ability of scientists to isolate
and culture embryonic stem cells…
• This controversy is often related to
abortion politics and to human cloning.
• Additionally, efforts to market
treatments based on transplant of
stored umbilical cord blood have been
controversial.
Classification of Life
Species of Organisms
• There are 13 billion known
• species of organisms This is only 5%
of all
• organisms that ever lived!!!!! New
organisms are still being found and
identified
What is Classification?
Classification is the arrangement of
organisms into orderly groups based on
their similarities
Classification is also known as taxonomy
Taxonomists are scientists that identify &
name organisms
Benefits of Classifying
Accurately & uniformly names organisms
Prevents misnomers such as starfish &
jellyfish that aren't really fish
Uses same language (Latin or some Greek) for
all names
All scientific names come from the Latin
language. Three reasons for this:
*Latin is a dead language; therefore
meanings of words will not change.
*By using Latin scientists do not favor one
country over another.
*Latin is a descriptive language.
Organisms also have “common names.”
However, in different areas they may be
called different names, which is confusing.
Ex: The ground hog; also known as the
woodchuck and whistlepig has only one
scientific name, Marmota monax.
Confusion in Using Different Languages for
Names
Latin Names are Understood by all
Taxonomists
Early Taxonomists
The International Code for Binomial
Nomenclature contains the rules for
naming organisms All names must be
approved by International Naming
Congresses (International Zoological
Congress) This prevents duplicated names
Classification Groups
Taxon (taxa-plural) is a Category
into which related organisms are placed
There is a hierarchy of groups (taxa) from
broadest to most specific Domain,
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family,
Genus, species

2000 years ago, Aristotle was the first

Hierarchy-Taxonomic Groups
taxonomist Domain  BROADEST TAXON
Aristotle divided organisms into plants & Kingdom
animals
Phylum (Division – used for plants) Class
He subdivided them by their habitat --- land,
sea, or air dwellers Order

John Ray, a botanist, was the first to use Latin Family

for naming Genus
His names were very long descriptions telling
Species  Most Specific
everything about the plant

Carolus Linnaeus 1707 – 1778

18th century taxonomist Classified organisms

by their structure Developed naming system
still used today

Called the “Father of Taxonomy”

Developed the modern system of naming

known as binomial nomenclature

Two-word name (Genus & species)

Standardized Naming

Binomial nomenclature used Genus’s species

Latin or Greek Italicized in print Capitalize
genus, but NOT species Underline when writing

Binomial Nomenclature
Rules for Naming Organisms Domains
Broadest, most inclusive taxon
Three domains Some are autotrophic, while others
are heterotrophic Aquatic
Archaea and Bacteria are unicellular
prokaryotes (no nucleus or membrane- Fungi
bound organelles)
• Multicellular, except yeast
Eukarya are more complex and have a Absorptive heterotrophs (digest
nucleus and membrane- bound organelles food outside their body & then
absorb it) Cell walls made of chitin
Animalia
•Multicellular Ingestive heterotrophs
(consume food & digest it inside their
bodies) Feed on plants or animals

BACTERIA

• Kingdom - EUBACTERIA

• Some may cause DISEASE

• Found in ALL HABITATS except harsh

ones Important decomposers for
environment
• Commercially important in making
cottage cheese, yogurt, buttermilk,
etc.
Taxons
Most genera contain a number of similar
species
The genus Homo is an exception (only
contains modern humans)

Classification is based on evolutionary

relationships

Domain Eukarya is Divided into Kingdoms

• Protista (protozoans, algae…)

• Fungi (mushrooms, yeasts …)

• Plantae (multicellular plants)

Basis for Modern Taxonomy
• Animalia (multicellular animals)

Protista • Homologous structures (same

structure, different function)
Most are unicellular
• Similar embryo development
Some are multicellular
 • Molecular Similarity in DNA, RNA,
or amino acid sequence of Proteins
Similarities in Vertebrate Embryos
Cladogram
Diagram showing how organisms are
related based on shared, derived
characteristics such as feathers, hair, or
scales
Dichotomous Keying
Used to identify organisms
Characteristics given in pairs
Read both characteristics and either go to
another set of characteristics OR identify
the organism
Example of Dichotomous Key
1a Tentacle’s present – Go to 2
1b Tentacles absent – Go to 3
2a Eight Tentacles – Octopus
2b More than 8 tentacles – 3
3a Tentacles hang down – go to 4
3b Tentacles upright–Sea Anemone
4a Balloon-shaped body–Jellyfish
4b Body NOT balloon-shaped - 5