B2.3 Cell Specialisation Flashcards
What are stem cells
cells that continue to grow and divide repeatedly, rather than specialise
What are morphogens
a small number of genes determine body patterns during the embryo development
They are extracellular and occur across a gradient of concentrations
what do morphogens do
high concentration of morphogens will cause cells to act diff from when there is a low concentration
this means initiation/inhibition of gene expression is a result of different concentrations of morphogens
they control the way cells differentiate and develop in specific tissues
what is a blastocyst
a tiny balls of cells, formed through continual cell division
what are embryonic stem cells
cells found on the inner cell mass of the blastocyst
What are adult stem cells
few cells that keep many of the properties of embryonic stem cells
what does it mean that stems cells are self renewing and have potency
they maintain undifferentiated states and have the capacity to differentiate in mature cell types
what is a stem cell niche
an area of tissue that provides a specific environment where stem cells exist in undifferentiated and self renewable states
They can then receive stimuli to determine their behavior
What can a result of signals in stem cell niches be
maintenance of a dormant state
cause to self renew
commit to a more differentiated state
Bone marrow is ..
the site of blood cell formation for most vertebrates
what is an osteoblast
cells which regulate the creation of bones
what is Hematopoietic Stem Cells
they produce RBC, WBC and platelets
They are closely connected with osteoblasts because they rely on each other to function
What is the vascular niche
in the adult bone marrow, is a place for stem cell mobilisation , proliferation , differentiation
What are hair follicles
they are structures that can regenerate in order to continuously produce new hair
They are multipotent and have the potential to increase rapidly
what happens during the growth phase of hair follicle stem cells
becomes activated to regenerate the hair follicle causing hair to grow longer every day
what happens to hair during the resting phase of hair follicles
the stem cells are dominant and hairs shed more easily
what causes hair to turn white
hair follicles have pigment cells that make melanin
certain stem cells act as pigment producing.
Fewer of these cells become active and hair loses its ability to produce melanin
what can lead to hair loss with age
imbalance in stem cells differentiation and altered stem cell activity
What are totipotent stem cells
the most versatile type, they are the first formed stem cells of a zygote
Can become any type, including cells that make the placenta
what are pluripotent stem cells
slightly limited in potential, can give rise to any cell type that makes up the body, but cannot make placental or totipotent stem cells
when are pluripotent stem cells found
as blastocyst is formed, stem cells in subsequent division are pluripotent
what is multipotent stem cells
stem cells are only able to develop and form the nervous system after differentiation has occurred
can develop into diff cell types but very limited
have limited capacity for self renewal
what is the function of multipotent stem cells
they can create, maintain and repair the cells of one particular organ or tissue