Bioethics

Formulate and justify ethical opinions on gene editing in relation to case study scenarios.

Because people who would be affected by germline gene therapy are not yet born, they can't choose whether to have the treatment. . How can "good" and "bad" uses of gene therapy be distinguished? Who decides which traits are normal and which constitute a disability or disorder? Will the high costs of gene therapy make it available only to the wealthy? Could the widespread use of gene therapy make society less accepting of people who are different? Should people be allowed to use gene therapy to enhance basic human traits such as height, intelligence, or athletic ability?

Explain how viruses can be used as vectors in gene therapy.

Certain viruses are often used as vectors because they can deliver the new gene by infecting the cell. The viruses are modified so they can't cause disease when used in people. Some types of virus, such as retroviruses, integrate their genetic material (including the new gene) into a chromosome in the human cell

where stem cells are found

Embryo Blastocyst Inner Cell Mass - Pluripotent Function of ES cells provide the cells that will become all the tissue of the body Adults All tissues in the body Multipotent or unipotent Function of adult stem cells Replace damaged or worn out cells in one specific tissue

what is a how Embryonic Stem cells

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are stem cells derived from the undifferentiated inner mass cells of a human embryo. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they are able to grow (i.e. differentiate) into all derivatives of the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm.

How Es cells are Isolated

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells isolated from the mammalian blastocyst. Traditionally, these cells have been derived and cultured with mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) supportive layers, which allow their continuous growth in an undifferentiated state.

pluripotent stem cells and where each are found.

Embryonic stem cells. These stem cells come from embryos that are three to five days old. At this stage, an embryo is called a blastocyst and has about 150 cells. These are pluripotent (ploo-RIP-uh-tunt) stem cells, meaning they can divide into more stem cells or can become any type of cell in the body. This versatility allows embryonic stem cells to be used to regenerate or repair diseased tissue and organs.

How ES cells are cultured

Growing cells in the laboratory is known as cell culture. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are generated by transferring cells from a preimplantation-stage embryo into a plastic laboratory culture dish that contains a nutrient broth known as culture medium. The cells divide and spread over the surface of the dish.

Compare and contrast the ethical considerations for somatic and germline gene therapy.

How can "good" and "bad" uses of gene therapy be distinguished? Who decides which traits are normal and which constitute a disability or disorder? Will the high costs of gene therapy make it available only to the wealthy? Could the widespread use of gene therapy make society less accepting of people who are different? Should people be allowed to use gene therapy to enhance basic human traits such as height, intelligence, or athletic ability?

multipotent stem cells and where each are found.

Multipotent stem cells have the same basic features of all stem cells. As with all stem cells multipotent stem cells are unspecialized cells that have the ability to: Self-renew for long periods of time and differentiate into specialized cells with specific functions

differences between pluripotent and multipotent stem cells

Pluripotent cells can give rise to all of the cell types that make up the body; embryonic stem cells are considered pluripotent. Multipotent cells can develop into more than one cell type, but are more limited than pluripotent cells; adult stem cells and cord blood stem cells are considered multipotent.

benefits with using ES cells

Research with embryonic stem cells may lead to new, more effective treatments for serious human ailments and alleviate the suffering of thousands of people. Diseases such as juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's disease, heart failure and spinal cord injuries are examples.

how CRISPR-Cas9 works?

Researchers create a small piece of RNA with a short "guide" sequence that attaches (binds) to a specific target sequence of DNA in a genome. The RNA also binds to the Cas9 enzyme. As in bacteria, the modified RNA is used to recognize the DNA sequence, and the Cas9 enzyme cuts the DNA at the targeted location. Although Cas9 is the enzyme that is used most often, other enzymes (for example Cpf1) can also be used. Once the DNA is cut, researchers use the cell's own DNA repair machinery to add or delete pieces of genetic material, or to make changes to the DNA by replacing an existing segment with a customized DNA sequence.

differences between somatic gene therapy and germline therapy.

Somatic gene editinghas less concerns than germ line editing becausethe altered DNA through the use of germline gene editing canbe passed on to future generations. In contrast, the use of somatic gene editing does not pass the damaged gene to future generations.

somatic gene therapy

Somatic gene therapy is the transfer of genes into the somatic cells of the patient, such as cells of the bone marrow, and hence the new DNA does not enter the eggs or sperm.

Describe why the use of animals in research is a controversial issue and how scientists try to find solutions to these ethical issues.

Some research requires scientist to inflict pain and destroy laboratory animals

Define what is meant by the term iPS and how this technique works

Stands for "Intrusion Prevention System." An IPS is a network security system designed to prevent malicious activity within a network. It is often used in combination with a network detection system (IDS) and may also be called an intrusion detection and prevention system (IDPS).

Stem Cells

Stem cells are found in organs and tissues.This cells can make internal repairs, through a cell division.Stem cells can also give rise to multiple cells.

function of stem cells

Stem cells retain the capacity to divide and have the ability to differentiate along different pathways. Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two important characteristics. First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. In some organs, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues. In other organs, however, such as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under special conditions.

problems with using ES cells

The key ethical issues concern the destruction of human embryos for stem cell derivation. On the grounds that the human embryo is a human life with moral value justifying its protection, the extraction of embryonic stem cells is unethical.

Gen therapy

The replacing faulty or mutated genes with a correct version

pros of using viral vectors for gene therapy.

These DNA viruses transduce a wide cell range, can integrate in host's genome and achieve for a long-period expression, besides avoiding a cellular immune response. The new technologies applied to the production and purification of these vectors had resulted in notable increases in quantity and quality of the infectious particles obtained.

cons of using viral vectors for gene therapy.

These viruses, however, possess a number of disadvantages including an inability to infect nondividing cells as well as having potential for oncogenicity and insertional mutagenesis of host cell genes due to random chromosomal integration. These disadvantages have led to the development of vectors based on DNA-containing viruses such as adenovirus, herpes simplex virus and parvovirus.

why they are used and common species used in research.

Usually easy to maintain, manipulate and breed in lab. They also share 70 to 98% of the same/identical DNA with humans

How Es Cells are differenciated

What is stem cell therapy (regenerative medicine) and how does it work? ... Researchers grow stem cells in a lab. These stem cells are manipulated to specialize into specific types of cells, such as heart muscle cells, blood cells or nerve cells. The specialized cells can then be implanted into a person.

germline therapy.

gene editing that would replace or change the DNA of embryos, eggs, or sperm . Germline therapy is the process of genetically modifying sperm or egg cells to create a new offspring. Germline therapy is a type of gene therapy where new DNA is inserted into cells using a vector, like a virus. The new DNA replaces only faulty DNA to cure genetic diseases.

CRISPR

is able to snip the mutated gene causing it to either change or be replaced with a correct version of the gene Focuses on ribonucleotide formation

animal model

non-human species that are used in a laboratory to help scientists understand biological processes.