Question

Embryonic stem cells are undifferentiated “blank” cells that can form into any of the tissues present in humans. This makes them all-purpose cells. Because they can form any tissue, harvesting stem cells has become something similar to the holy grail, but harvesting them is fraught with great controversy. Stem cells have two important properties. If they are left in the dish, they will continue to multiply and form more stem cells. If they are placed in different growth conditions, they will form into specific cell types. This is illustrated in the video as we watch stem cells become heart muscle cells. Ideally, stem cells have the potential to replace tissues in the body that are damaged, diseased or worn out.

Please answer only one of the questions below

a. From what tissue are embryonic stem cells harvested? What makes this a controversial issue?

b. Adults produce stem cells for use in repairing damaged tissue. What would be the advantage of using embryonic stem cells over adult stem cells?

c. What are some applications for stem cells?

d.The government currently provides funds for research on a small number of existing stem cell lines, but will not fund any new lines. What issues brought about this decision?

Hugh Herr, an avid rock climber. He suffers a debilitating accident, which is not shown but discussed, in which he loses his foot immediately below the knee. His doctor told him that it would take six months to even walk again and that he would most likely not be able to climb. Determined to climb again, Hugh embarks on a quest to create the ideal artificial limb for the vertical world. Various prototypes are shown and explained, as the prostheses become more refined and better able to answer Hugh's individual needs. Hugh is now able to ascend rock faces that he would not have been able to climb with his natural limbs.

Please answer only one of the questions below.

a. What actions are required of your legs and feet on a daily basis?

b. How is your leg and foot anatomy suited to perform these tasks? Is there some minor (or major) anatomical or physiological change that would make you a better runner, dancer, or athlete?  

c. How difficult is it to recreate or improve upon the design of the human body?

Answer 1

c) Applications of stem cells

Stem cells are pluripotent in nature and have the capacity to differentiate into a variety of cells, they can thus be used to treat and replace damaged cells and tissue resulting from severe illness/disease.

Tissue regeneration: by inducing stem cells in proper environment, tissue/organ can be regenerated. This is of great help to people suffering from organ failure because there is a dearth of organ donation and transplants.

Blood disease treatments: adult hematopoietic stem cells are being used to treat diseases, such as sickle cell anemia, leukemia, and various immunodeficiency problems.

Stem cells are of great help in research. Scientists have elucidated that a particular gene can be switched on or off and hence a particular kind of cell differentiation can take place which will help them to investigate the link between genes, mutations and their effects

a) What actions are required of your legs and feet on a daily basis?

actions of legs required on a daily basis are standing, walking, running, jumping and providing a posture to human body

actions of feet required on a daily basis

i) feet transmit body's weight to the ground while walking, jogging, running, standing

ii) maintaining posture:

iii) mobility: they help us in movement from one place to another