| Course Name | Stem Cells and Applications in Medicine |
| Course Code | 24MMD531 |
| Program | M. Sc. Molecular Medicine(MLM) |
| Semester | 1 |
| Credits | 3 |
| Campus | Kochi |
Stem cells are essential in the understanding of development of a fully functional organism from a single cell and the complexities associated with it. Due to its potential ability to differentiate into different cell types, these cells have huge application in medicine with respect to developing cellular therapies patient oriented viz personal medicine level. The potential therefore in medicine and medical research is enormous.
Introduction to stem cells, origin of thoughts on the potential of nucleus and identification on the significance of cytoplasm, history of the origin of stem cells.
Journey from embryo to fetus and the role of cytoplasm in stemness. Nuclear transfer and its significance in stem cell evolution. Identification and characterization of pluripotent stem cells in animal and humans; sources of pluripotent cells – blastocysts, parthenogenesis. Evolution of induced pluripotent stem cells. Significance of cytoplasm in stemness revisited and application of molecular biology, Generation of iPSC’s.
Stem cell markers. Types of stem cells its advantages and disadvantages. Classification of stem cells. Normal stem cells: hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, cardiac stem cells. Embryonic stem cells (ESC): difference between mouse and human ESCs, derivation of ESCs, scientific and ethical hindrance to ESC therapy. Tissue Stem Cells, Stem cell microenvironment: Cancer stem cells, Stem cell niche and how it can be studied, its significance in signaling and drug resistance of cancer stem cell survival. Role of engineered materials in inducing stem cell drug resistance and maintenance.
Identifying and isolating stem cells. Cancer stem cells: Historical perspective, isolation and characterization of cancer stem cells. Solid cancer stem cells (Breast, Lung, prostate, liver, stomach, Glioma). Targeting cancer stem cells. Hematological malignancies and stem cells. Side population cells in flow cytometry, Induced pluripotent stem cells, its derivation and applications.
Proliferation and differentiation control stem cells by signalling mechanisms. The role of various stimuli and cytokines. Endothelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT in fibrotic diseases and cancer.
Translational Stem Cell Medicine, Stem cells and Gene Therapy: Signaling pathway involved in self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells. clinical use of stem cells. Molecular mechanisms controlling the stem cell survival and viability and its significance in stem cell therapy. Basic principles and methodologies in generating stem cells.
Regulatory and ethical issues of stem cell research. Stem cell therapy for various diseases (neurodegenerative, retinal, leukemia, heart).
Pre-requisites: Basic understanding of biology biotechnology
Total number of classes: 45
Course Outcome
CO1 The student will be exposed to the history of stem cells, how the basic concept of stem cells has evolved over a period of 100 years.
CO2 Student will be exposed to the classification and also the major developments in stem cell biology area as well as principles and methodologies practiced.
CO3 Student will understand the concept of induced pluripotent stem cells, its derivation and differentiation to various lineages.
CO4 Student will understand the adult and embryonic stem cells and its derivations, isolation etc. Student will get clarity on the concept of stem cell niche and the concepts about cancer stem cells
CO5 At the end of this module the students will get an idea about stem cell therapy for various diseases and the ethical issues of stem cell research.
Program Outcomes
PO1: Bioscience Knowledge
PO2: Problem Analysis
PO3: Design/Development of Solutions
PO4: Conduct Investigations of complex problems
PO5: Modern tools usage
PO6: Bioscientist and Society
PO7: Environment and Sustainability
PO8: Ethics
PO9: Individual & Team work
PO10: Communication
PO11: Project management & Finance
PO12: Lifelong learning
0 – No affinity; 1 – low affinity; 2 – Medium affinity; 3 – High affinity
| c | PO1 | PO2 | PO3 | PO4 | PO5 | PO6 | PO7 | PO8 | PO9 | PO10 | PO11 | PO12 |
| C O | ||||||||||||
| CO 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| CO 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| CO 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| CO 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| CO 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Program Specific Outcomes. (PSO)
PSO 1 – Biochemical organization and cellular complexity in function
PSO 2 – Biomolecules in Medicine
PSO 3 – Molecular dysregulation in diseases
PSO 4 – Molecular technology in diagnosis and therapy
PSO 5 – Cell based approaches in diagnosis and therapy
PSO 6 – Microorganisms in Medicine
PSO 7 – Nanoscale entities and its significance in Medicine
PSO 8 – Tissue architecture engineering in Medicine
PSO 9 – Compounds as drugs and its efficacy
PSO 10 – Bioinformatics and biological data use
| – | PSO1 | PSO2 | PSO3 | PSO4 | PSO5 | PSO6 | PSO7 | PSO8 | PSO9 | PSO10 |
| C O | ||||||||||
| CO 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| CO 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| CO 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CO 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CO 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Internal Assessment – 50% | ||
| Periodical 1 | Exam | 20% |
| Periodical 2 | Exam | 20% |
| Continuous Assessment | Assignment/Test/Quiz | 10% |
| 50% | ||
| End Semester Examination- 50% | ||
| Theory Exam | 50% | |
| 50% | ||
| Total | 100% |
Robert Lanza, “Essentials of Stem cell Biology”, Elsevier, 2006
Daniel R. Marshak, Richard L. Gardner and David Gottlieb, “Stem cell Biology”, Cold spring Harbour Laboratory Press, 2001
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