Embryonic Stem Cells: Pros and Cons
Define embryonic stem cells
Explain the pros and cons of Embryonic Stem Cells
Pros:- Trans differentiate and reprogramming of these cells is possible but is not well studied
- Thought to be less likely to be rejected if used in transplants
- Success has already been demonstrated in various clinical applications
- Can maintain and grow for 1 year or more in culture
- Established protocols for maintenance in culture
- ESCs are pluripotent cells that can generate most cell types
- By studying ESCs, more can be learned about the process of development
- Abundant somatic cells of donor can be used
- Issues of histocompatibility with donor/recipient transplants can be avoided
- Very useful for drug development and developmental studies
- Information learned from the “reprogramming” process may be transferable for in vivo therapies to reprogram damaged or diseased cells/tissues
- Limitations on ASC ability to differentiate are still uncertain; currently thought to be multi or unipotent
- Cannot be grown for long periods of time in culture
- Usually a very small number in each tissue making them difficult to find and purify
- Currently there is no technology available to generate large quantities of stem cells in culture
- Process to generate ESC lines is inefficient
- Unsure whether they would be rejected if used in transplants
- Therapies using ESC avenues are largely new and much more research and testing is needed
- If used directly from the ESC undifferentiated culture prep for tissue transplants, they can cause tumors (teratomas) or cancer development
- Methods for ensured reproducibility and maintenance, as differentiated tissues are not certain
- Viruses are currently used to introduce embryonic genes and has been shown to cause cancers in mouse studies
Final answer
Embryonic stem cells are totipotent cells derived from the division of the zygote, which can differentiate into any human tissue. Their use holds significant medical promise but is accompanied by ethical concerns and technical challenges. Unlike multipotent adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells have a wider range of differentiation, providing more extensive therapeutic possibilities.Explanation:
Definition of Embryonic Stem Cells: Embryonic stem cells are the cells that arise from the division of the zygote. These are totipotent cells, meaning they have the potential to differentiate into any type of cell necessary for organismal growth and development. Pros and Cons of Embryonic Stem Cells: There are several pros associated with embryonic stem cells. They are pluripotent, which allows them to differentiate into any type of human tissue, making them highly valuable for medical research and therapeutic applications like tissue repair and organ transplantation. Furthermore, these cells can be an exact genetic match to the donor, which significantly reduces the risk of transplant rejection. However, there are also cons to consider. The use of embryonic stem cells raises ethical concerns because their extraction typically results in the destruction of the embryo. There are also challenges related to the mechanisms of cell specialization, which are not fully understood. In a laboratory setting, conditions must be precisely controlled to induce the stem cells to differentiate properly. In comparison to somatic or adult stem cells, which are multipotent and limited to differentiating into cell types of their tissue of origin, embryonic stem cells have a broader differentiation potential. But ethical and technical hurdles persist in the application of both embryonic and somatic stem cells.What are the pros and cons of using embryonic stem cells?
The pros of using embryonic stem cells include pluripotency and the ability to generate various cell types. However, ethical concerns and technical challenges exist, such as the risk of tumor formation and rejection in transplants.