Lecture 12 - Modelling Embryogenesis

Question 1

What 5 things are required to go from the ICM to primitive ectoderm?

Answer 1

1. Maintenance of pluripotence (both ICM & prim. ect. are pluripotent)
2. Differentiation signals (ICM must convert to prim. ect.) 3. Proliferative burst (~50 cells to >6000 cells in ~3 days)
3. Cell survival signals (cells next to ECM are kept alive)
4. Cell movement & death (for cavitation)

Question 2

What part of the ectoderm produces morphogens?

Answer 2

Visceral ectoderm

Question 3

What molecules are used to:

1. maintain pluripotence
2. cell survival & proliferation
3. differentiation?

Answer 3

1. BMP4 & BMP4 receptor
2. Integrin & ECM protein
3. FGF & FGF receptor

Question 4

What amino acid is essential to turn embryonic stem cells into primitive ectoderm?

Answer 4

L-Proline

Question 5

Difference between pluripotent, multipotent and unipotent?

Answer 5

P: capable of giving rise to all cell types that make up the body
M: capable of giving rise to multiple cells times but more restricted than pluripotent
U: capable of giving rise to only one cell type

Question 6

What 5 applications of ES cells?

Answer 6

1. In vitro modelling of embyogenesis
2. Toxicological/drug screening
3. Cell therapies (animal models of human diseases e.g. Parkinson’s)
4. Transgenic cell lines (knock-ins & knock-outs)
5. Transgenic animals