Meghana Kakubal

Science, Davis Per 6

3/2/2015
Think Tac Toe- Stem Cells Science Fiction

Can you believe that new science assignment? I turned to find my

best friend Lily catch
up to me, panting.
I know right! It seems really hard. I'm glad we're partnering up. Share the
sorrow together!
Lily laughed and then grew serious. You know my dad is a scientist right? I
just remembered, he investigates on stem cells.
That's great! That will make writing a report on stem cells a lot easier.
You can come over tomorrow after school, okay Mia?
Sure thing!
Waving bye we boarded on our buses heading home.
As I entered the house I heard the distinct sound of my mom scrubbing
the dishes in the kitchen.
Hey, Mom. I said, taking a seat at the dining table.
Hey, Mia! How was school?
Fine. For science Mr. Cole assigned us to write up a complete report on
stem cells. Lily and I partnered up, thankfully. Her dad's a scientist studying
stem cells so were probably going to head to his lab!
That's cool. Why don't you get some research going so you can learn at
least the basics?
Youre right. I'll do that right now.
I pulled out my iPad and searched up in the Google search box stem
cells. Clicking on a site called Student Science, I scrolled down the page.
According to the site, stem cells are a sort of like replacement cells.
They are able to reproduce into different cells. A stem cell can reproduce to
a neuron, red blood cell, muscle cells, etc. Stem cells can repair or replace

different kinds of tissues, and scientists hope to be able to use that aspect to
help many people with different diseases. There are three different types of
stem cells. There are 3 different types of stem cells; pluripotent, adult, and iP
stem cells. Blood stem cells are cells that are specified to reproduce blood
cells. Pluripotent stem cells are cells that can turn into any type of cell in the
human body, these are also called embryonic stem cells, as there are the
cells of an embryo. Reaching these pluripotent cells means destroying the
embryo, a situation that has led to high controversies among experts. The
second type of stem cells, adult stem cells are pockets of cells with a group
of specialized cells that can form into a limited set of different cells- these
stem cells are very rare and are harder to work with. The last type of stem
cells are iP cells. iP stands for induced pluripotent cells. These cells come
from specialized cells, such as skin cells, inserted with specific genes,
transforming it into a cell that behaved just like embryonic stem cells.
I was amazed. Reading on, I found that stem cells could recreate and
repair tissue- a property that could probably save lives! I closed the laptop,
anticipating for the next day to head to Lilys house.
The next day I sat in the back of Lilys dad, Mr. Tamps car, gazing out
the window. We were driving to his research lab and Mr. Tamp was more
excited than Lily and I.
I'm so glad that you girls are researching this! It's just so interesting. I
mean, all the possibilities it holds for cures for humans! I won't disappoint
you with this science!
Lily and I exchanged glances, our own excitement growing with our
expectations. Arriving at the lab, we all stepped out and walked towards the
welcoming entrance for science.
Okay kids! What do you want to learn? Mr. Tamp questioned once we
stepped in.
For one, I inquired, how are stem cells used in any way to cure?
That's a good question. Stem cells are cells that can create any
different types of cells in the body. When cells are lost because of an injury,
stem cells can reproduce to create the specialized cells that are missing
Now Lily piped up, But what types of diseases or injuries can stem cells
cure?
So far, researchers have guaranteed success in using stem cells to
regrow tissues externalLy- such as skin and cornea. It is also guaranteed

success for blood stem cell transplants. These are for people with problems
in their blood or immune system.
Mr. Tamp took us around the lab until he came to a work station. This is
where we have are iP stem cells, induced pluripotent. I understand that you
know what that is?
Lily and I nodded in agreement.
Good! IP stem cells were a break through in science. Gesturing
towards Petri dishes filled with a sort of brown liquid, Shinya Yamanaka
made this breakthrough in 2006 by taking a specialized cell- like the skin
cells- from the body and then inserting 4 genes into it, the genes that are
found in embryonic stem cells. Slowly the skin cell started to reproduce until
the daughter cells changed more and more, finally ending up with a cell that
behaved exactly like embryonic stem cells.
Lily and I were amazed. Wide eyed, I asked, But for surgeries and the
sort, would doctors use the adult stem cells or the iP stem cells?
It varies. When damage happens to one eyes cornea, they will use
adult stem cells found in the other good eye to repair the cornea. If both
eyes are damaged, they might us iPS cells.
Mr. Tamp hassled us over to the microscope sitting at the station.
Placing a Petri dish on the stage, he waved us to go on and look through the
lens. Lily stepped up first and settled her eye over the viewer.
Mouthing, Wow., she backed off for me to look.
I peered through the lens and found myself looking at a clump of little
circles, with smaller, darker circles in the middle. It seemed that the outer
circle was some sort of jelly.
Wow, I spoke, that was really cool. But what was the dark circle in the
middle?
Mr. Tamp laughed, Thats the nucleus. Think of it as the cells brain.
I nodded.
Lily still had a question, So the cells become different, specialized cellsI understand that- but how do the stem cells know which cell to become?
"That's a really good question. Truthfully scientists don't really know
exactly what tells a stem cell what to do. We think that the stem cells also

get clues from their environment, like what the temperature is and maybe if
theyre moving or attached to something. It is also proven that cells can
communicate with each other. Scientists don't know exactly how yet, but
they are figuring that out as we speak. Mr. Tramp smiled.Anything else?
Lily and I both shook our heads. It was all clear. I was ready for that research
paper.

After Mr. Tamp dropped me home, I sat down at the dining table, waiting
for my mom to give me dinner.
So how was it? my mom asked.
It was actually really interesting. I wasn't expecting science stuff to be
like that. I mean just imagining all the possibilities there are with the Stem
cells is so cool- thinking about what you can actually do with it is something
entirely different. I finished my sentence by shoving a fork full of salad in
my mouth.
Well, obviously this is really cool to you, but do you care to explain it to
your clueless mother?
Whoops. Basically, one type of stem cells are cells that are created first
when we're an embryo. Those cells are cells with the capability to turn into
any specialized type of cell there is. After that, groups of different stem cells
are created- but each have a few stem cells, called adult stem cells, that can
turn into a few types of specialized cells. The third type of stem cells are
called iP stem cells. These are cells that were originally specialized but were
coaxed into becoming pluripotent or embryonic stem cells. Stem cells can be
used to regrow or repair any tissue that is lost- which I find is the coolest
part.
Wow, that's pretty deep. But have you found out about the exact
process in which scientist start to regrow any tissue?
You're right, I'm still confused on that part of the process. I'll look up
some more about that procedure after dinner.
Scarfing the rest of the meal, I ran upstairs to my room to continue my
research. Logging on to my laptop, I started to look for details on the
integration of stem cells in certain procedures. Leaning towards the laptop

screen I was captured with all the various ways they were studying to use
stem cells. For example, looking for a way to avoid transplantations for a torn
meniscus (which is a tissue in the knee that protects bones) they
experimented on sheep with injured knees. Seeing that sheeps knees were
similar to humans in their makeup, they decided to find a way to attract the
body's stem cells to the injured meniscus to lure them to regrow the tissue.
Scientists attached a biodegradable plastic device onto the healthy meniscus
near the injured part. In the plastic piece scientists put proteins that acted
like a magnet to draw the stem cells from the marrow to the joint. Once the
stem cells were attracted, they grew a new healthy patch of tissues. Twelve
weeks after the surgery, the sheep were able to use their knees like normal.
Continuing my research I found many more examples of amazing discoveries
taking place all around the world.
Mia, you need to hear this. My mom poked her head through the door
with a solemn look on her face.
Come in. I said, swiveling around in my chair to face her.
You know Elizabeth, right? Elizabeth was my cousin that was in
college, majoring in chemistry. All I really knew about her was that she was
really smart-because she went to Harvard here in Boston.
For her lab, she was experimenting with acid and when it accidentally
spurted into the air at a time when she wasn't ready for it, she got acid in her
eye. Your Aunty Mary said she damaged her cornea.
What?! That's not good! What hospital is she admitted to? I asked.
Massachusetts General Hospital, at least for now. Dad and I are
heading over there immediately, would you like to come?
Yes. I immediately agreed.
Okay, we're leaving in two minutes. She stated before leaving the
room.
I quickly gathered my coat and phone and rushed to the door. Slipping
on my shoes, I ran out of the house and into the car just in time. On the car
ride there, I wondered about how the damage was to Elizabeth's eye. From
how much I knew about her, one thing I was sure of was that she was an
incredibly careful girl. The acid spray must have been at a really unexpected
time if she wasn't wearing her goggles. Another thing that I wondered was
about the power of stem cells in this situation. Could they save Elizabeths
vision?

As soon as we reached the hospital, my mom practically pulled me out

of the car in the hurry to get to Elizabeth. I was surprised at the number of
people in the waiting room but the realization was ignored as soon as we saw
Aunty Mary sitting on a chair with her head in hands. We scurried over to her,
myself a little unsure of how delicate Aunt Mary was at the moment.
Mary! Are you okay? Is Elizabeth okay? My mom didn't seem to have
any hesitation.
Claire! You're here! I'm okay, though I'm not sure I can say the same
for Elizabeth.
Why? What happened? I spoke up. Aunt Mary looked at me, as if
swallowing in my presence. You could see the sadness in her eyes weighing
her down.
The doctors said that usually at this point of time they would do a
cornea transplant, but they don't have a donor cornea that matched
Elizabeth's makeup or something.
They don't have any other way? My dad questioned.
Apparently not. Oh, what am I going to do?
Hold on. Did both eyes get damaged? I inquired.
No. Just her left eye. Why? Aunt Mary was baffled.
Aunt Mary, is there anyway that I can talk to the doctors?
I can try to get them for you. Wait here. My parents and I watched as
she stood up, straightened herself, and then shuffled off.
Mia, what are you up to? You know that this isn't a situation for any
childish antics. My dads voice was stern.
Dad, I know. But just give me a chance with this. I replied. He sighed
and sank down in a chair. Giving me a look my mom followed suit and left me
pacing with anticipation and nervousness.
After a few minutes, Aunt Mary was walking back, with a man in a white
coat following her.
Okay, Mia. Here's Dr. Reynolds. He's the ophthalmologist looking over
Elizabeth.

Nice to meet you, Mia. Dr. Reynolds put out his hand and taking it I
felt all grown-uppy. You wanted to talk to me?
Yes, doctor. I know that Elizabeth's condition is fragile and all but I
think it is very safe to go ahead with with what I'm thinking. I know that
Harvard is studying about stem cells and the eyes, and it's also proven with
at least mice that it's possible repairing the cornea with kimball stem cells
that weren't damaged from the other eye. Seeing that Elizabeth's right eye is
still healthy retrieving the limbal stem cells from there and placing them with
the damaged cornea should coax them to start repairing the cornea. I know
that it won't get an immediate cure, but overtime Elizabeths should be back
to normal again, right? By this time I was making wild gestures with my
hands and was breathless.
Right when I started to hold my breath waiting for Dr. Reynolds to
answer, he exhaled with a deep thought. After a few seconds of tensed
silence he spoke, I didn't think about that. While with most people we
wouldn't want to risk it, Elizabeth was know throughout the Harvard institute.
Everyone knows she had so many hopes and dreams and she was already
rolling on the path of achieving those. With a damaged left eye forever, she
might not be able to get back on that path- something that none of us want.
He started to smile, Mia, I think you're right. This is a time where we can
take a risk, and most probably have successful results. I also know that this
would be something that Elizabeth would want to happen.
Dr. Reynolds turned towards Aunty Mary, Maam, I need you not to
worry we will start preparations immediately. When all has gone well, we will
definitely let you know. Meanwhile, I think it's best for Elizabeth to stay in the
hospital. Turning to me he said, and Mia? Thank you. With those words Dr.
Reynolds whirled around and ambled away.
Mia? What just happened? Aunt Mary questioned.
I think I just gave a suggestion to a doctor and he took it! Aunt Mary,
all you really need to know is that Elizabeth is going to undergo surgery and
it will hopefully and most likely turn out triumphant for all of us.
If you says so Mia. Let's all just hope and wish for the best. Now we all
need some rest. Looking at a snoring Mom and Dad she said, Well, the rest
of us. Exhaustion taking over, Aunt Mary and I both sat down and fell into a
heavy sleep.

Wake up, Mia! You've got to go to school! It had been two weeks since
the first day at the hospital. Surgery had taken place and although Elizabeths
eye hadn't completely been repaired yet, she was feeling a lot better.
Doctors estimated that her eye would be completely repaired in a 5-8
months or so. Elizabeth and Aunt Mary had thanked me profusely for the
idea and so had the doctors, but really I just gave a suggestion, I didn't have
any part in carrying it out. Life had returned to a fairly normal routine,
everyone busy with their own schedules. Elizabeth had to wear an eye patch
and she complained about minor discomforts from time to time but she was
getting along fine. I had another job though, I had an essay to write.