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CELL DIFFERENTIATION (SPECIALIZATION) Textbook Reference: pg. 38-45 THE SAME …. BUT DIFFERENT Mitosis produces cells with exact copies of the same chromosomes…therefore the same genes But cells will produce different proteins and therefore differ in structure and function E.g. Bone cells, nerve cells, muscle cells, skin cells…. AND IT ALL BEGINS WITH ONE CELL! Every new organism (animal or plant) begins as a single cell, the fusion of their parents genes (sperm + egg = zygote) This cell divides into two identical cells by the processes of mitosis and cytokinesis. Two daughter cells then divide and the process continues. Blastocyst Every cell contains the same chromosomes and the same genes. How then do organisms produce very different types of cells? Not every gene in a cell gets expressed or “switched on”. Therefore, not every protein gets produced! FACTORS THAT AFFECT CELL SPECIALIAZTION What decides how/which genes are expressed? Cytoplasm in the Cell – amount of cytoplasm and number of other organelles affects how the cell will develop 2. Environmental Conditions of the Cell – temperature, nutrients, contaminants…. 3. Neighbouring Cells – diffusion across the cell membranes from one cell to another when cells are close to each other (chemical communication between cells) 1. Both plants and animals have cells which can become ANY type of cell Plants – meristematic cells Animals – embryonic stem cells ANIMALS - STEM CELLS Unspecialized cells – the first few cells within an embryo are totipotent - able to eventually become any type of cell As an embryo develops (after 1 week), cells become less versatile and can only produce some kinds of cell (tissue). They are pluripotent. After birth, people have only adult stem cells (or unipotent)– these can only produce very specific types of cell. E.g. Skin cells can only produce more skin cells. STEM CELL RESEARCH AND USES Embryonic stem cells – can be cultured (grown) to produce many types of tissue Holds great promise for treating many diseases including life-threatening ones. Many would say that this fact alone should mean “full speed ahead” with research. ETHICAL ISSUES Requires the destruction of an embryo - usually grown from eggs fertilized with sperm “in vitro” (outside the womb) Some say this is destroying a human life (a person) Some say that personhood does not come until much later (brain cells?, blood?) Adult stem cells – can be cultured (grown) to produce the type of tissue they came from No ethical issue Requires the addition of “growth factors” (nutrients) CANADA – FIRST LAWS IN 2002 Embryos can only be used which are no longer wanted for reproductive purposes. Illegal to “create” embryos solely for stem cell research Embryos must be less than 14 days old (after conception) to be used to harvest stem cells Donors must provide consent to the use of embryos Cannot buy/sell embryos ALTERNATIVE - INDUCED PLURIPOTENCY Very recent research (last 5 years) Taking normal tissue cells (e.g. skin) that are unipotent and “forcing” them to become pluripotent (by the addition of genes) A kind of “cellular reprogramming” This removes the ethical issue (no destruction of embryos/blastocysts) TISSUE ENGINEERING (GROWING ORGANS IN THE LAB) http://singularityhub.com/2009/06/08/growing-organs-in-the-lab/ Human skin grown in the lab from stem cells http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nqw1yjyK Es&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1 &safe=active