Cell Differentiation

Question 1

How do stem cells become specialised?

Answer 1

To become specialised, stem cells must undergo differentiation to form specialised .

Question 2

What does cell differentiation involve the genes doing and what does it allow?

Answer 2

Cell differentiation involves some of their genes being switched on or off to produce different proteins, this allows the cell to acquire different sub-cellular substances for it to carry out a specific function.

Question 3

What usually happens to animal cells at an early stage?

Answer 3

In animals, almost all cells differentiate at an early stage and then lose the ability.

Question 4

How do most specialised cells make more of the same cell?

Answer 4

By undergoing osmosis.

Question 5

What is osmosis?

Answer 5

Osmosis is the process which involves a cell dividing to produce 2 identical daughter cells.

Question 6

What do red blood cells get replaced by and why?

Answer 6

Red blood cells get replaced by adult stem cells which retain their ability to undergo differentiation because red blood cells lose their nucleus and cannot divide.

Question 7

In mature animals, when does cell division mostly occur and why?

Answer 7

In mature animals, cell division mostly happens to repair or replace damaged cells as they undergo little growth.

Question 8

When do plant cells differentiate?

Answer 8

Plant cells only differentiate when they reach their final position in the plant.

Question 9

When do plant cells re-differentiate?

Answer 9

Plant cells re-differentiate when it is moved to another position.