1.4 Cellular Differentiation

Question 1

What is cellular differentiation?

Answer 1

The process by which a cell expresses certain genes to produce proteins characteristic for that type of cell. This allows a cell to carry out specialised functions

Question 2

What is a meristem?

Answer 2

Regions of unspecialised cells in plants that can divide (self-renew) and/or differentiate

Question 3

What is a stem cell?

Answer 3

Unspecialised cells in animals that can divide (self-renew) and/or differentiate

Question 4

What is the meaning of pluripotent stem cells?

Answer 4

They can differentiate into all the cell types that make up the organism e.g. embryonic stem cells

Question 5

What is the meaning of multi-potent stem cells?

Answer 5

They can differentiate into all of the types of cell found in a particular tissue type e.g. blood stem cells located in bone marrow can give rise to all types of blood cell

Question 6

What are tissue stem cells?

Answer 6

Involved in the growth, repair and renewal of the cells found in that tissue

Question 7

What is a research use of stem cells?

Answer 7

Involves stem cells being used as model cells to study how diseases develop or being used for drug testing e.g stem cell research provides information on how cell processes such as cell growth, differentiation and gene regulation work

Question 8

What is the issue with using embryonic stem cells?

Answer 8

They can offer effective treatments for diseases and injury; however, it involves destruction of embryos