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Course Detail

Course Name Stem Cells and its Applications in Medicine
Course Code 22MMD532
Program M. Sc. Molecular Medicine(MLM)
Semester 1
Credits 3
Campuses Faridabad, Kochi

Syllabus

Unit 1

(Lectures 3) 

Introduction to stem cells, Origin of thoughts on the potential of nucleus, history of the origin of stem cells.

Unit 2

(Lectures 8) 

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.

Unit 3

(Lectures 8) 

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 its significance in signaling and cancer cell stem cell survival. Role of engineered materials in stem cell maintenance.

Unit 4

(Lectures 9) 

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.

Unit 5

(Lectures 7) 

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.

Unit 6

(Lectures 7) 

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.

Unit 6

(Lectures 3) 

Regulatory and ethical issues of stem cell research in India.Stem cell therapy for various diseases (neurodegenerative, retinal, leukemia, heart).

Summary

Pre-requisites: Basic understanding of biology biotechnology

Total number of classes: 45

Preamble

Stem cells are essential in the understanding of development of a fully functional organism from a single cell and the complexities associated with it. 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.

Course Outcome

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.

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

PO1 PO2 PO3 PO4 PO5 PO6 PO7 PO8 PO9 PO10 PO11 PO12
CO1 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
CO2 3 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 2
CO3 3 3 2 2 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 3
CO4 3 2 3 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 3
CO5 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
CO1 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0
CO2 2 2 1 2 2 0 0 1 0 0
CO3 1 3 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0
CO4 2 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0
CO5 1 2 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 0

Evaluation Pattern: 50+50 = 100

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%

Textbooks/ Reference Books

Textbooks

  • Robert Lanza, “Essentials of Stem cell Biology”, Elsevier, 2006

Reference

  • Daniel R. Marshak, Richard L. Gardner and David Gottlieb, “Stem cell Biology”, Cold spring Harbour Laboratory Press, 2001

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