Cancer and Stem Cells

Question 1

Fill in the blanks

The nucleus consists of _______ and their ____ which are made up of a molecule called DNA

Answer 1

chromosomes, genes

Question 2

What is a gene

Answer 2

Small section of DNA which controls a characteristic of your body

Question 3

Different versions of genes are called

Answer 3

alleles

Question 4

Why do we need cell division

Answer 4

• Growth/repair
• Replacement
• Asexual reproduction

Question 5

Cell division name in eukaryotes and prokaryotes

Answer 5

mitosis in eukaryotes
binary fission in prokaryotes

Question 6

Name 3 steps of the cell cycle

Answer 6

1. Interphase - growth phase
2. Mitosis - nucleus splits
3. Cytokinesis - cytoplasm splits into two

Question 7

Explain mitosis

Answer 7

1. Parent cells have 46 chromosomes.
2. The DNA duplicates to 92 chromosomes.
3. They line up in pairs at the centre of the cell and are pulled to either pole of the cell
4. This creates 2 identical daughter cells and are identical to the parent cell

Question 8

what does mitosis create at the end

Answer 8

2 identical daughter cells

Question 9

definition of mitosis

Answer 9

division of dna in eukaryotic cells

Question 10

what are tumors?

Answer 10

a mass of cells

Question 11

what are the two different type of tumors

Answer 11

benign tumors are a mass of cells contained in one area

malignant tumors are formed of cancer cells that invade other tissues and spread around the body causing secondary tumors

Question 12

what is cancer

Answer 12

cell division happens incontrollably and cell number increases inappropriately

Question 13

what are stem cells?

Answer 13

cells that are capable into differentiating into specific cell types

Question 14

what are the 3 different stem cells? (2 human ones, 1 plant one)

Answer 14

• Embryonic stem cells that can differentiate into all human cells types
• Adult bone marrow stem cells that can differentiate into different types of blood cells
• Meristems in plants contain stem cells that can differentiate into all plant cells. They are able to differentiate cell types throughout their livess

Question 15

Which type of illnesses can be treated with stem cells?

Answer 15

Diabetes (insulin producing cells) and paralysis (motor neurons)

Question 16

Pros and Cons of using embryonic stem cells?

Answer 16

Cons

• It is against certain religions to stop life from developing. (no choice/consent)
• Embryonic cells are unstable and could cause tumours
• Stem cells have a risk of spreading viral infection

Pros

• Treatment to incurable diseases
• Diverts resources to treatments (less waste) that really work than making patients wait for a transplant for years
• Less animal testing and money wasted on testing drugs