6.5: Stem Cells Flashcards
What is differentiation?
The process of a cell becomign specialised
What do all cells in eukaryotes being as?
Undifferentiated cells, or stem cells
What is the function of stem cells?
They are the source of new cells necessary for growth, development and tissue repair.
Why are stem cells necessary?
When stem cells become specialised, they lose the ability to divide. So a constant supply is needed
What happens if stem cells divide too slowly?
The organism begins to age
What happens if stem cells divide too quickly?
They form tumours, leading to the development of cancer
What is potency?
A stem’s ability to differentiate
What does totipotent mean?
Can differentiate into any type of cell, and can eventually produce a whole organism
What does pluripotent mean?
Can differentiate and form all tissue types, but not whole organisms
What does multipotent mean?
Stem cells that can only form a range of cells within a certain type of tissue
List the order of potency, from most potent to least.
Totipotent, Pluripotent, Multipotent
Which stem cells produce erythrocytes?
Stem cells in the bone marrow
Which stem cells produce neutrophils?
Stem cells in the bone marrow
State the sources of animal stem cells.
Embryonic stem cells, and Tissue (adult) stem cells (in bone marrow and umbilical cord)
What potency are embryonic stem cells?
Initally totipotent, but after a week the cells become pluripotent
