16-Cell Death

what is apoptosis?

Death of single cells

Shrinks

Phegocytosis

Requires ATP

DNA compaction

DNA gel “ladder”, non-random DNA cleavage

what is necrosis?

Death of many cells

Loses osmotic control, expands

Messy, macrophages

No ATP required

N/A

DNA gel “smear”, random DNA cleavage

who studied chick embryos and saw many cells were dying and also won a Nobel Prize?

Rita Levi Montalcini

who coined apoptosis?

John Kerr

what was Rita’s observation based on?

NGF (non-growth factor) and other growth factor deprivation

what is cell biology?

a multidisciplinary science that involves new medical
technology, engineering,biotechnology, bioethics, religion,
politics, federal regulation, and the all the tools we learned in class

what is the future challenge for cell biology?

bioethics, we can now do things that are considered by many as not ethical

• But it will be your decision on what is ethical by supporting/not supporting federal legislation

what did Nucleus Genomics do?

An IVF gene analysis company that can genetically analyze several
embryos for traits – from eye color to autism genes. Then you select the embryo you want implanted based on these traits and risk factors

what is the procedure for nucleus genomics?

1. Preimplantation Genetic Testing that is legal to analyze embryos for disease genes

2. Cells removed and analyzed at 5 to 6 days post fertilization

3. PGT has been used and resulted in 15,000 births worldwide

what is the cost for nucleus genomics?

$30,000 for the entire procedure w/ IVF

who is the CEO of Nucleus Genomics?

25-year-old Kian Sadeghi. Sadeghi’s dream began with tragedy. One night, his cousin died in her sleep from a previously unknown genetic condition. The loss permanently altered his life’s path.

what is the genetic “optimization” process?

1. Nucleus Genomics analyzes 2000 traits in each embryo from
   genes associated with eye color and male pattern
   baldness to Alzheimer’s Disease and Diabetes.

2. Once known you then select the embryo that you want

what are blastoids?

pre-implantation constructs generated from human stem cells that model pre-implantation human blastocysts

• they model earliest stages of human embryonic development

how are blastoids used with cultured human uterine cells?

to:

1. better understand how they stick to the uterine wall

2. Test novel agents such as FDA approved SC144 that are non-hormonal contraceptives

3. Improve IVF procedures

what was A Space Odyssey about?

“HAL” was a computer on board a spaceship that turned nasty and exhibited “learning” and took on an unexpected personality –
Exhibiting “Artificial Intelligence

what was Fantastic Voyage about?

Miniaturized humans and spaceships were injected into a patient to cure disease - Could be the future of Human “Anthrobots”

what are anthrobots?

a type of biobot that they show can assemble as a group into
“superbots”

• from same group of scientists from harvard tufts and UVM who made xenobots - self replicating amphibian organisms made from stem cells

what are self propelling nanbots that reduce bladder tumor size by 90% in mie?

a group has now developed urea powered nanobots that can
deliver radionucleotides to bladders in a mice model and the bladder tumor is reduced by 90%

is bladder cancer survival rate high or low?

very low