1.4 Cellular Differentiation Flashcards
1
Q
Cellular Differentiation
A
- the process by which a cell expresses certain genes to produce proteins characteristic of that type of cell
- this allows cells to carry out specialised functions
2
Q
Types of stem cells
A
- embryonic stem cells
- tissue stem cells
3
Q
Embryonic stem cells
A
- pluripotent
- can differentiate into all types of cell that make up an individual
4
Q
Tissue stem cells
A
- multipotent
- can differentiate into all types of cell found in a particular tissue type
5
Q
Meristems
A
regions of unspecialised cells in multicellular plants that divide and differentiate to produce growth
6
Q
Stem Cells
A
unspecialised cells in animals that can divide and/or differentiate
7
Q
Theraputic uses of stem cells
A
- corneal repair: tissue from patients own corneal stem cell grafted to the surface of the eye
- skin graft: sample taken from area close in structure to the damaged area, enzymes used to obtain stem cells, which are cultured and then sprayed over the damaged area
8
Q
Research uses of stem cells
A
- investigation of how diseases develop
- drug testing
- research on how cell processes work
9
Q
Ethical issues of the use of stem cells
A
- use of stem cells can offer treatments for disease and injury
- but the extraction of embryonic stem cells results in the death of an embryo
