Advanced Biotechnology: Stem Cells & Cloning
Stem Cell & Cloning Applications
Stem Cell Therapy Applications
Stem cells frequently offer the possibility of replacing damaged cells and tissues. They may be used to treat various conditions, including:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Spinal cord injuries
- Brain injuries
- Heart injuries
- Regenerating the pancreas in diabetics
- Regenerating epithelial cells, etc.
Understanding Gene Activation & Inhibition
Understanding the mechanisms of activation and inhibition of genes could lead to a cure for cancer.
Drug Testing & Development
Experimenting with new drugs on any kind of tissue eliminates the need for clinical trials on animals and humans.
Gene Therapy with Stem Cells
This involves adding a functional gene to a patient’s stem cells to compensate for a genetic defect.
Successful Stem Cell Applications
One of the most well-known applications is the transplantation of bone marrow stem cells, used to treat leukemia and other cancers.
In April 2000, the first successful stem cell gene therapy was reported. Stem cells were extracted from the bone marrow of two babies born with a genetic defect. These cells were cultured, the faulty gene was replaced, and then the modified cells were transferred back to the children.
In October 2007, Spain performed the first implantation of stem cells in an infarcted heart, using the patient’s own cells with excellent results.
Stem cell reserves have been found in the adult brain. These cells can form different kinds of nerve cells and are capable of regenerating neurons, potentially benefiting many patients with nervous system disorders.
To date, all successes have been achieved with adult stem cells, with no reported successes using embryonic stem cells. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms that allow the specialization of human stem cells to obtain valid specialized tissues for transplantation.
Understanding Cloning
Cloning is the process by which identical copies of an organism are produced. The cloned organism is genetically identical to the cell or organism from which it was derived.
Natural Cloning Methods
- Asexual reproduction: This type of reproduction occurs in bacteria, plants, and very primitive animals such as sponges.
- Separation of embryos in the early stages of development: This is the case of identical twins, who originate from a single fertilized egg (zygote).
Artificial Cloning Mechanisms
Artificial cloning can occur through two main mechanisms:
- Embryo division: This involves dissociating the cells of an early embryo to obtain new, identical, or cloned embryos.
- Nuclear transfer: An individual clone is generated from a somatic cell without fertilization. A somatic cell is taken from the organism to be cloned, and its nucleus is removed. This nucleus carries all the genetic information of the organism. Separately, an egg cell is taken from another organism of the same species, and its nucleus is removed. The somatic cell nucleus is then introduced into the enucleated egg cell. This reconstructed egg cell is stimulated to divide, forming an embryo. The embryo is then implanted into the uterus of a surrogate mother. The embryo will develop, and the resulting offspring will be a clone of the organism from which the somatic cell was extracted.
Applications of Cloning
- Reproductive Cloning: Its purpose is to create genetically identical individuals.
- Therapeutic Cloning: Its purpose is to create embryonic stem cells for therapeutic purposes. Its future clinical application could solve two major problems associated with transplantation: the shortage of donors and the risk of rejection, as a patient could be transplanted with their own tissue.