Thursday, January 8, 2015

Stem Cells Engineered


This article, by Jayalakshmi K., discusses expanding genome technologies for engineering stem cells. Scientists are hoping for treatments for diseases and to be applied in new/improved medications. Certain methods, such as CRISPR and TALEN can modify DNA by adding, taking away, substituting, or shortening DNA’s gene sequences. However, there is now a new technique (named iPCS) developed at John Hopkins that causes adult cells to preform similar to embryonic stem cells. This allows the adult cells to evolve into certain needed cells. To perform this new technique, the genome editing process uses DNA and RNA bound together by an enzyme to allow scientists to know where to modify.

This article relates to what we have been learning in class about genetic modification and the process taken to insert the desired genes and change DNA sequences. Though the process used in this case is different from the techniques we have studied, scientists edit the DNA sequence to produce the organism with the wanted additional traits in both. We have also studied stem cells; mostly found in the embryo, the cells are able to develop into other cells (Campbell, Neil A., Brad Williamson, and Robin J. Heyden. Biology: Exploring Life). Adults have few stem cells that can make limited new materials (such as tissues), so the development of iPCS will further expand and improve health.

K., Jayalakshmi. "Stem Cells Engineered Using Genome Editing Technology."                       International Business Times RSS. N.p., 7 Jan. 2015. Web. 08 Jan. 2015.

5 comments:

  1. How would adding, taking away, substituting, or shortening DNA's gene sequences, like in CRISPR and TALEN, lead to that cell becoming a stem cell?

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    2. Scientists are able to apply methods and treat the cells with four proteins that change the DNA gene sequences and essentially "rewind the cells back into an embryonic-like state." The genes that produced the four proteins were put into an organism and next antibiotics were injected. The antibiotics 'activated' the genes. From that point, iPS cells develop into stem cells.
      http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24184-cells-inside-a-body-reprogrammed-to-become-stem-cells.html#.VLMwGyvF_To

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  2. Why would the DNA sequences of stem cells be different from those of adult cells?

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    1. Most likely the DNA sequences are different because of the different functions these cells preform. As they go through cellular differentiation while the embryo develops, DNA sequences change to code proteins and accomplish the needed functions.
      (Campbell, Neil A., Brad Williamson, and Robin J. Heyden. Biology: Exploring Life).

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