HeLa cells, Stem Cells

[Figmentum]

If HeLa cells and Stem cells were put in the same environment over a lengthy amount of time, would they eventually take the characteristics of one another, even in minimal terms?

[Rei]

I don't think so...
Unless the HeLa cells were somehow sending signals to alter the genes in the stem cells...

But how did you come to that theory?

Side Note:
Stem cells are capable of becoming any type of cell through cellular differentiation (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.). I'm not sure, but I don't think the presence of the cells surrounding it directly takes part in altering the fate of the cell.

[thegnat]

I'm honestly not sure about that. The following is all speculation and I've had a little tissue culture experience, grown a few, split a few cell cultures myself.

- if they were put in the same say petrie dish one or the other might take over depending on which grows faster and/or which is hardier.
- In order for HeLa cells to survive they need certain conditions, certain media, certain nutrients in that media (I worked with Hela cells over the summer)
- Hela cells are also very hardy. They don't die on you that easily.
- Stem cells are polypotent which means they can turn into essentially anything. Having said that, I do not know whether stem cells would take on characteristics of HeLa cells in order to survive in that environment as it's the HeLa cells' natural environment.

Other than all that I'm really not sure about anything.

I *don't* know much about conditions that stem cells grow in nor how that affects what they turn into.

I *don't* know how HeLa cells interact with stem cells or if stem cells grow faster than they do or not. Hela cells grow decently fast.

I'd be very interested if anyone knows anything more about this...or perhaps if i were motivated I could ask my sources...

oh and btw - cells *can* signal and affect each other. I don't know if this is happening here or not or if it would be plausible.

[Rei]

oh and btw - cells *can* signal and affect each other. I don't know if this is happening here or not or if it would be plausible.

I realize it's possible... I just wonder if it will cause an effect in this situation...

Anyway... it'd be interesting to know how Figmentum came about this idea.

[Figmentum]

I came about it when my biology teacher, Jeff, and I were talking one day. He mentioned Hela cells, and I was very interested, I investigated it for a while, then thought of stem cells. I knew cells could message each other. I was just wondering that, if over a certain amount of time, in the same environemt, with certain variables (i.e. electrochemical manipulation), if they could begin to bond or imitate characteristics.

A stem cell that would live indefinately, would produce profound results in the field of science and pretty much life itself.