Your stem cell company had been working with two patients with heart disease to
ID: 65091 • Letter: Y
Question
Your stem cell company had been working with two patients with heart disease to develop iPS cells from each patient to be used for treatment. Skin cells were taken from each patient, transformed using the standard factors, and iPS cells were selected and grown in culture in preparation for treating the patients. The hope was that infusing iPS cells derived from the patient’s own skin cells would repair the heart damage without triggering an immune response. However, in the natural disaster that damaged the hospital (mentioned in problem 4, shown below) the labels of the two cell cultures that identified which culture belonged to which patient were erased, although the cells are still viable.
Problem 4 ----A major earthquake has damaged a hospital and all records were lost. One infant was rescued and two different sets of relatives (aunts, uncles, and grandparents) are both claiming this child is their relative. Both families are certain their family’s child was conceived by artificial insemination, but in both cases the parents were lost. One family knows that their child had three biological parents (and they know the mitochondrial donor)
a. What test or tests would you do to determine which culture of cells belongs to which patient?
b. What results would you expect from your tests that would confirm the cells identity
Explanation / Answer
a. What test or tests would you do to determine which culture of cells belongs to which patient?
DNA profiling test is very useful. DNA from an individual body cells or somatic cells is useful in this test. DNA profiling of the patients and the stem cells will be helpful to identify which cells belong to which person. Human leukocyte antigen identification system is also helpful in identifying the cells to which they belongs.
b. What results would you expect from your tests that would confirm the cells identity?
Very easily it is possible to identify which cells belong to which person. The DNA profiling matches to particular clone of cells. The proteins encoded by the human leukocyte antigen on the outer part of the body cells are unique to that person. It is possible to get positive in immuno assay if the cells belong to the particular person.
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