President Barack Obama's position on human embryonic stem cells

This video is presenting Obama speech on stem cell research.

The US president has lifted ban on human embryonic stem cell research by signing an executive order on March 9Th 2009.

What is gene therapy?

What is gene therapy?

Gene therapy is a medical treatment which alters the genetic structures of an individual’s cells. The method consists of replacing, modifying or insertion of genes into cells and tissues with the purpose of treating a disease (in most cases hereditary disease).

Types of gene therapy

• Germ line gene therapy

This therapy focuses on the future offspring of the patient because target cells for genetic modification are germ cells (sperm and eggs). Such genetic alteration is heritable and will manifest in future generations. Germ line therapy in humans is subject to ethical debates and prohibited by many jurisdictions although it is supposed to be very effective in preventing genetic disorders.

• Somatic gene therapy

In this case therapy will involve somatic cells of a patient and any modifications on the genome will affect the individual patient only, and will not be transmitted to the patient's offspring.

Gene therapy methods

• Insertion of a normal gene into the genome to replace a damaged nonfunctional gene
• Swapping of an abnormal gene with a normal one through homologous recombination
• Repairing a defective gene thorough selective reverse mutation
• Alteration of gene regulation (how is gene expressed)

Vectors in gene therapy

• viruses
• naked DNA
• oligonucleotides
• dendrimers

The beginning of gene therapy

Gene cure, the early experiments of gene therapy in 1990. Physicians extract some T-cells from a child suffering from a fatal disease and genetically modify them in the lab with the help of a harmless virus. Damaged genes are changed with normal genes by the virus and healthy T-cells are re-injected into the patient.

Stem cell birth

This stem cell animation briefly explains :

• stem cells birth
• stem cells development
• how these cells work in our body

Stem cells generalities

Stem cell technology has generated a lot of excitement in the last years. This field however is linked to both hope and controversy. It is thought that stem cells have a huge potential for treating many diseases. This movie tries to answer several questions regarding stem cells:

• what are stem cells ?
  
• where do stem cells come from ?
  
• how do embryonic stem cells differ from adult stem cells ?
  
• which technologies can utilize stem cells ?
  
• how may stem cells integrate in clinical trials and regenerative medicine ?