[39] Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Question 1

What are Stem Cells?

Answer 1

Cells with the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body.

Question 2

What are the two main types of Stem Cells?

Answer 2

Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) and Adult Stem Cells.

Question 3

ESCs - Initials

Answer 3

Embryonic Stem Cells

Question 4

What is the unique feature of Stem Cells?

Answer 4

They can self-renew or multiply while maintaining the potential to develop into other cell types.

Question 5

What are Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)?

Answer 5

Adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state.

Question 6

iPSCs - Initials

Answer 6

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Question 7

How are iPSCs created?

Answer 7

By introducing four specific genes encoding transcription factors.

Question 8

What is the significance of iPSCs?

Answer 8

They provide a renewable source of high-quality cells for disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine.

Question 9

What is a key advantage of iPSCs over ESCs?

Answer 9

iPSCs bypass the ethical issues associated with the use of human embryos in research.

Question 10

What are somatic cells?

Answer 10

Any cell in the body other than sperm or egg cells.

Question 11

What is the potential of Stem Cells in medicine?

Answer 11

They can replace damaged cells and tissues in the body, offering potential treatments for a range of diseases.

Question 12

What is cell potency?

Answer 12

The ability of a cell to differentiate into different cell types.

Question 13

How is pluripotency significant in the context of Stem Cells?

Answer 13

Pluripotent cells, such as ESCs and iPSCs, can give rise to any cell type in the body.

Question 14

What are some challenges with using Stem Cells in medicine?

Answer 14

Issues with cell differentiation control, immune rejection, and potential for tumor formation.

Question 15

What’s the role of Stem Cells in development?

Answer 15

They provide the cells that differentiate to form the specialized tissues and organs of the body.

Question 16

How are iPSCs different from adult stem cells?

Answer 16

While adult stem cells are generally limited to differentiating into different cell types of their tissue of origin, iPSCs can theoretically differentiate into any cell type.

Question 17

How are iPSCs similar to ESCs?

Answer 17

Both have the essential property of pluripotency, which is the potential to differentiate into any type of cell in the body.

Question 18

What is the role of transcription factors in the creation of iPSCs?

Answer 18

They reprogram the adult cells to an embryonic-like state.

Question 19

How does disease modeling benefit from iPSCs?

Answer 19

iPSCs can be derived from patients with specific diseases, allowing the study of the disease at the cellular level.

Question 20

What makes Stem Cells suitable for regenerative medicine?

Answer 20

Their ability to differentiate into various cell types allows them to replace damaged or lost cells in the body.