Another use for neural stem cells
We talked about using neural stem cells - from embryonic, fetal, adult and other sources - to create new neurons, replacing those lost in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's.
This paper talks about using another property of stem cells - stem cells migrate towards sites of disease and injury. Once they arrive, they may make new cells to replace those lost.
The paper talks about using stem cells to deliver drugs to sites of disease, for example taking chemotherapy drugs to the site of brain tumours. This would make chemotherapy much less damaging to the patient, as a lower, targeted dose would produce fewer side effects.
The idea of (some) stem cells as highly mobile and their differentiated daughters as static seems to fit in with the potential vs function dichotomy.
Stem cells have great potential/'potency', but cannot perform specialised cell functions. Neurons have a highly specialised function, but no potential for further differentiation.
If you can't get to the paper, DesignBot, I can email you a pdf if you would like :).
And yeah, I may use cheesy song lyrics in the titles. The bad pop-culture reference is a time-honoured tradition in scientific writing.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Sunday, 28 June 2009
More informaton on Nobelini for the casual viewer.
http://www.csc.mrc.ac.uk/NewsEvents/News/Nobelini/
"As part of an ongoing collaboration between the MRC and University of the Arts, London the project aims to pair young scientists with design students in a bid to celebrate specific areas of scientific discovery. Pairs will compete for a £2000 prize to facilitate the creation of a science-inspired design product."
I like the Neuron images ScienceBot they make me think of spiders for some reason :)
"As part of an ongoing collaboration between the MRC and University of the Arts, London the project aims to pair young scientists with design students in a bid to celebrate specific areas of scientific discovery. Pairs will compete for a £2000 prize to facilitate the creation of a science-inspired design product."
I like the Neuron images ScienceBot they make me think of spiders for some reason :)
Entry form - to be massively edited over time
1.Theme: Stem cells
2.Design name: Neural Jewels (working title)
3.Please outline your proposed design detailing materials and methods (500-1000 words)
Range of circular brooches. Anodized aluminium discs, perspex overlay
Each brooch carries the image of all different retinal cell types as blue stencils on blue.
Range of neuron-shaped earrings
Anodized aluminium in a range of colours- Help me out DesignBot? I have no idea other than that some form of cutting is involved
Perspex cutouts
Stencils
4.Explain how your design either celebrates and/or communicates science (500-1000 words)
A stem cell holds the potential to produce any one of a range of daughter cells, each with a differing form and function. Our designs were intended to convey the concept of this wealth of potential, focusing on retinal stem cells and their offspring. We also explored the range of functions of retinal neurons and glia, drawing links from stem cell to neuron to function to the process of vision itself.
We wanted our jewellery to be playful, wearable and engaging, celebrating the science behind the design by stimulating the wearer's curiosity about the shapes, colours and symbols used.
Our initial design ideas focused on neural stem cells, as the artificial development of neural stem cells is an area of great medical importance. Neuronal death in the central nervous system is highly damaging in humans due to a lack of neural regeneration, and hence a permanent loss of vital neural tissue. Applied stem cell research could allow us to grow new, replacement neural tissue from cultured or transplanted stem cells. This could cure or ameliorate many different neurodegenerative conditions including Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and macular degeneration.
However, a full understanding of the potential of stem cells is necessary to comprehend both the amazing benefits and the possible dangers of stem cell use in medicine. The potential of stem cells lies not in what they are but in what they can make; the same stem cell line may produce functional neurons or multiplying tumour cells depending on the condition of the stem cells. The control of stem cell differentiation requires a refined understanding of all the possible fates of the stem cell and its offspring. Our jewellery range tries to promote the importance of that understanding by getting the owner to ask questions about the meaning behind the shapes they wear.
Our designs focus on retinal stem cell and their offspring. There is considerable interest in using retinal progenitor cells to cure conditions such as macular degeneration, where the loss of retinal neurons leads to loss of sight. There is also a great deal of available scientific literature on retinal neurons and glia, as well as many image resources both published and unpublished from which to draw inspiration.
Retinal stem cells also seemed to be a good candidate for a full exploration of the potential of stem cells, owing to the relatively small number of neuronal types they can produce. We included representations of every retinal daughter cell type in our jewellery designs. This communicates the full potential of retinal stem cells to give rise to multiple daughter cell types.
The design of our range of brooches explores the mechanism by which different retinal neurons can be generated by retinal stem cells, conveying the hidden potential of stem cells to produce one of many cell types given the right conditions.
From a design standpoint, the architecture of neural tissue has a baroque complexity and contains a range of elaborate, spider-like cell shapes. Neuronal shapes are visually striking and hence were an interesting prospect for design.
Neuronal shape is intimately connected to function. The shape of the dendritic tree and length of axon determines the connections that a neuron makes and hence how it functions in a circuit. These shapes are highly stereotyped in many regions – neurons of the same type all look alike.
This gave us a clear visual shorthand to show the development of the formless, all-potential-no-function stem cells into elaborate neuronal architecture which has function but no potential for further development. The variation in shape also made it easier to demonstrate visually the differences between different types of stem cell offspring.
The earring designs explored in greater detail the different functions of different retinal neurons. As well as showcasing the varied and beautiful shapes of the neurons themselves. The symbols stamped onto the surface of the metal are clues about the specific function of the neuron in the process of visual transduction – sensors, messengers and processors. For example, the rainbow motif on the cone cell earring represents the role of cone cells in colour perception. The tuning dial/eye symbol on the amacrine cell earring refers to the role of amacrine cells in 'tuning' visual input in a wide range of conditions, such as rapid movement or light level variation. The piano keys stamped on the ganglion cell reflect the complex message - 'music' - conveyed by these cells using a mass of single electrical impulses, or 'notes'.
We decided to use bright primary colours for both brooches and earrings. This is the same colour range used in fluorescence microscopy, the method by which these cells are often visualised. The colour range used for the brooch designs, while referencing the three main colours used in fluorescence microscopy, also ended up referencing the three types of cone cells in the human retina - red, green and blue. The use of bright, primary colours give the jewellery an air of exuberance, while simultaneously hinting at the scientific origin of the images that inspired us.
5.Give details of supplementary documentation in support of your proposed design, if appropriate (50 words)
This blog http://nobellini-neural-jewel.blogspot.com/
(attach A2 design plan, supplementary materials, etc.)
2.Design name: Neural Jewels (working title)
3.Please outline your proposed design detailing materials and methods (500-1000 words)
Range of circular brooches. Anodized aluminium discs, perspex overlay
Each brooch carries the image of all different retinal cell types as blue stencils on blue.
Range of neuron-shaped earrings
Anodized aluminium in a range of colours- Help me out DesignBot? I have no idea other than that some form of cutting is involved
Perspex cutouts
Stencils
4.Explain how your design either celebrates and/or communicates science (500-1000 words)
A stem cell holds the potential to produce any one of a range of daughter cells, each with a differing form and function. Our designs were intended to convey the concept of this wealth of potential, focusing on retinal stem cells and their offspring. We also explored the range of functions of retinal neurons and glia, drawing links from stem cell to neuron to function to the process of vision itself.
We wanted our jewellery to be playful, wearable and engaging, celebrating the science behind the design by stimulating the wearer's curiosity about the shapes, colours and symbols used.
Our initial design ideas focused on neural stem cells, as the artificial development of neural stem cells is an area of great medical importance. Neuronal death in the central nervous system is highly damaging in humans due to a lack of neural regeneration, and hence a permanent loss of vital neural tissue. Applied stem cell research could allow us to grow new, replacement neural tissue from cultured or transplanted stem cells. This could cure or ameliorate many different neurodegenerative conditions including Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and macular degeneration.
However, a full understanding of the potential of stem cells is necessary to comprehend both the amazing benefits and the possible dangers of stem cell use in medicine. The potential of stem cells lies not in what they are but in what they can make; the same stem cell line may produce functional neurons or multiplying tumour cells depending on the condition of the stem cells. The control of stem cell differentiation requires a refined understanding of all the possible fates of the stem cell and its offspring. Our jewellery range tries to promote the importance of that understanding by getting the owner to ask questions about the meaning behind the shapes they wear.
Our designs focus on retinal stem cell and their offspring. There is considerable interest in using retinal progenitor cells to cure conditions such as macular degeneration, where the loss of retinal neurons leads to loss of sight. There is also a great deal of available scientific literature on retinal neurons and glia, as well as many image resources both published and unpublished from which to draw inspiration.
Retinal stem cells also seemed to be a good candidate for a full exploration of the potential of stem cells, owing to the relatively small number of neuronal types they can produce. We included representations of every retinal daughter cell type in our jewellery designs. This communicates the full potential of retinal stem cells to give rise to multiple daughter cell types.
The design of our range of brooches explores the mechanism by which different retinal neurons can be generated by retinal stem cells, conveying the hidden potential of stem cells to produce one of many cell types given the right conditions.
From a design standpoint, the architecture of neural tissue has a baroque complexity and contains a range of elaborate, spider-like cell shapes. Neuronal shapes are visually striking and hence were an interesting prospect for design.
Neuronal shape is intimately connected to function. The shape of the dendritic tree and length of axon determines the connections that a neuron makes and hence how it functions in a circuit. These shapes are highly stereotyped in many regions – neurons of the same type all look alike.
This gave us a clear visual shorthand to show the development of the formless, all-potential-no-function stem cells into elaborate neuronal architecture which has function but no potential for further development. The variation in shape also made it easier to demonstrate visually the differences between different types of stem cell offspring.
The earring designs explored in greater detail the different functions of different retinal neurons. As well as showcasing the varied and beautiful shapes of the neurons themselves. The symbols stamped onto the surface of the metal are clues about the specific function of the neuron in the process of visual transduction – sensors, messengers and processors. For example, the rainbow motif on the cone cell earring represents the role of cone cells in colour perception. The tuning dial/eye symbol on the amacrine cell earring refers to the role of amacrine cells in 'tuning' visual input in a wide range of conditions, such as rapid movement or light level variation. The piano keys stamped on the ganglion cell reflect the complex message - 'music' - conveyed by these cells using a mass of single electrical impulses, or 'notes'.
We decided to use bright primary colours for both brooches and earrings. This is the same colour range used in fluorescence microscopy, the method by which these cells are often visualised. The colour range used for the brooch designs, while referencing the three main colours used in fluorescence microscopy, also ended up referencing the three types of cone cells in the human retina - red, green and blue. The use of bright, primary colours give the jewellery an air of exuberance, while simultaneously hinting at the scientific origin of the images that inspired us.
5.Give details of supplementary documentation in support of your proposed design, if appropriate (50 words)
This blog http://nobellini-neural-jewel.blogspot.com/
(attach A2 design plan, supplementary materials, etc.)
Pictures of neurons
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/articles/cajal/index.html
Sliver-stained neurons (stained using the Golgi impregnation method), showing the elaborate architecture of the dendritic trees. The form and function of neurons are intimately connected.
http://www.newscientist.com/blog/shortsharpscience/2007/11/somewhere-over-brainbow.html
Brainbow! The use of bright fluorescent colours in modern cell imaging techniques may influence the colour scheme of our end design.
http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/molneurobiol/salecker/optic/
An example of the three main colours used in fluorescent immunohistochemistry, a method by which protein expression in stem cells and neurons can be visualised.
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sciences/Lifescience/GeneralBiology/Physiology/NervousSystem/Neuron/Neuron.htm
Pictures of neurons and their association with glial cells. Neuronal and glial cells can derive from the same multipotent stem cell progenitor population through the production of intermediate neural or glial specialised progenitor cells.
Sliver-stained neurons (stained using the Golgi impregnation method), showing the elaborate architecture of the dendritic trees. The form and function of neurons are intimately connected.
http://www.newscientist.com/blog/shortsharpscience/2007/11/somewhere-over-brainbow.html
Brainbow! The use of bright fluorescent colours in modern cell imaging techniques may influence the colour scheme of our end design.
http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/molneurobiol/salecker/optic/
An example of the three main colours used in fluorescent immunohistochemistry, a method by which protein expression in stem cells and neurons can be visualised.
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sciences/Lifescience/GeneralBiology/Physiology/NervousSystem/Neuron/Neuron.htm
Pictures of neurons and their association with glial cells. Neuronal and glial cells can derive from the same multipotent stem cell progenitor population through the production of intermediate neural or glial specialised progenitor cells.
1st meeting - 28th June 2009
The Designer and the Scientist met up today to generate some preliminary ideas for science-celebrating designs. Lots of interesting ideas - in stem cell research and jewellry design - were discussed. We ended up focusing on on research into neural stem cells and neuronal (re)generation. We also decided to make this blog through which to exchange information and to record the design process.
Future posts will contain many pretty pictures of stem cells, neurons and shiny jewellry, as well as documentation of the design process.
Future posts will contain many pretty pictures of stem cells, neurons and shiny jewellry, as well as documentation of the design process.
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