8 - CONTROL OF GENE EXPRESSION

Question 1

Describe how stem cells become specialised

Answer 1

• Stem cells become specialised by only expressing certain genes and switching off others.
• Genes that are expressed get transcribed into mRNA, which is then translated into proteins.
• These proteins modify the cell.
• Changes to the cell produced by the proteins cause the cell to become specialised.

Question 2

What are stem cells?

Answer 2

Unspecialised cells that can develop into other types of cell

Question 3

State the different types of stem cells

Answer 3

Totipotent - can develop into any type of body cell
Pluripotent - can develop into any type of body cell but cannot become the cells that make the placenta
Multipotent - can differentiate into a few different types of cell
Unipotent - can only differentiate into one type of cell

Question 4

What are cardiomyocytes

Answer 4

Heart muscle cells