Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Stem cell biology is a fast-developing scientific discipline. Based on substantial fundamental aspects, this emerging cell biology field is associated with highly popular applied features. Growing attention is devoted in recent years toward studies on stem cell biology in model organisms (mainly mammalians), including stem cell differentiation and gene expression in selective vertebrates. These studies, in addition to their inherent interest in the general biological phenomenon of stem cells, are motivated by the rationale that stem cells might serve in fighting against human diseases, or in regenerating damaged organs in humans.
Unfortunately, the research on marine organisms is lagging behind the studies on vertebrates and some invertebrate model organisms (like Drosophila melanogaster), despite the discoveries that very potent stem cells exist, even in the most primitive multicellular marine organisms (like sponges and cnidarians). Recent studies further revealed similarities between the biological properties of stem cells in marine organisms and the vertebrates. They confirmed the existence of unique features associated with stem cells from marine organisms that lead to phenomena such as somatic and germ cell parasitism, or whole-body regeneration. The lecture holds 14 chapters on marine stem cells, including theoretical chapters, overview essays, and specific research outcomes. |