stem cells
Undifferentiated tissue builders
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells capable of developing into specialized cell types—blood cells, nerve cells, muscle tissue.
They divide to produce more stem cells or transform into specific types as the body needs them.
Embryonic stem cells can become any cell type; adult stem cells are more limited.
Stem cell research holds promise for treating diseases but raises ethical debates over embryo use.
Recognizing meaningful differences
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- multipotentCan become multiple types
- totipotentCan develop into any cell
- self-renewalReplenishing from within
progenitor · precursor · embryonic · somatic · blastocyst · lineage · growth factors · morphogenesis
Moral philosophy for medicine
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- informed consentPermission given with understanding
- human dignityIntrinsic worth of persons
- religious objectionsDissent based on faith
pro-life · sanctity of life · consent · exploitation · commodification · Dolly the sheep · chimeras · designer babies
Surgical organ relocation
- clinical trialsControlled health research experiments
- tissue repairBiological wound healing process
- bone marrowBlood cell birthplace
- leukemiaMalignancy of blood-forming tissues
lymphoma · Parkinson's · spinal cord injury · grafting · remission · recovery · patient care · personalized medicine
Gene-editing molecular machinery
- gene editingTargeted DNA alteration
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- biotechnologyEngineering using living systems
- genomicsStudy of entire genetic sequences
synthetic biology · bioengineering · organoids · reprogramming · precision medicine · Nobel Prize · startups · venture capital
Official enactment of statutes
- FDA approvalOfficial drug safety certification
- regulatory oversightOfficial monitoring of compliance
- patentsExclusive rights to inventions
- international regulationsAgreements binding multiple countries
oversight committees · public funding · state laws · European Union · South Korea · Japan · China
differentiation
Recognizing meaningful differences
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- multipotentCan become multiple types
- totipotentCan develop into any cell
self-renewal · progenitor · precursor · embryonic · somatic · blastocyst · lineage · growth factors · morphogenesis · gene expression
bioethics
Moral philosophy for medicine
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- informed consentPermission given with understanding
- human dignityIntrinsic worth of persons
religious objections · pro-life · sanctity of life · consent · exploitation · commodification · Dolly the sheep · chimeras · designer babies · slippery slope
transplantation
Surgical organ relocation
- clinical trialsControlled health research experiments
- tissue repairBiological wound healing process
- bone marrowBlood cell birthplace
leukemia · lymphoma · Parkinson's · spinal cord injury · grafting · remission · recovery · patient care · personalized medicine · immunotherapy
CRISPR
Gene-editing molecular machinery
- gene editingTargeted DNA alteration
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- biotechnologyEngineering using living systems
genomics · synthetic biology · bioengineering · organoids · reprogramming · precision medicine · Nobel Prize · startups · venture capital · bioreactors
legislation
Official enactment of statutes
- FDA approvalOfficial drug safety certification
- regulatory oversightOfficial monitoring of compliance
- patentsExclusive rights to inventions
international regulations · oversight committees · public funding · state laws · European Union · South Korea · Japan · China
- Biomedicineanatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, immunology
- cellscells, blood cells, nerve cells, brain cells, mitosis
- BiotechDNA, bioengineering, genetic testing, gene, DNA sequencing
- Blood Systemblood, blood cells, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets
- developmental biologymorphogenesis, embryogenesis, gastrulation, organogenesis, ectoderm
- neurodevelopmentneural tube, neurogenesis, neuroblast, neuroblasts, neural tube defects