Cell Differentiation

Question 1

What are stem cells,

Answer 1

Stem cells = undifferentiated cells

Embryonic stem cells = can differentiate into any type of cell. Found in the early stages of an embryo

A

Question 2

what are the uses of stem cell therapy

Answer 2

One of the largest uses of stem cells is stem cell therapy
Bone marrow transplants can be used to treat blood cancer like leukaemia

Question 3

Why give cell making tissue to someone who has cancer who already has uncontrolled cell divison?

Answer 3

BECAUSE due to chemotherapy (where you kill healthy AND diseased cells), they may lose too many blood cells, so the bone marrow transplant helps with this

Question 4

What are the problems with stem cell therapy (5)

Answer 4

Problems with embryonic stem cells:
Many people have moral/ethical and religious beliefs that go against harvesting embryonic cells
Ethical - a potential human is being used as a source of cells
Human rights - the embryo doesn’t have capacity to give its permission yet
Religious - life beginning at conception, and others believe you should not interfere in the process of reproduction
There are some concerns that it could lead to cancer as they divide rapidly
Adult stem cells may be infected with viruses infecting the recipient

Question 5

what are the types of stem cells

Answer 5

Two types: embryonic and adult

Question 6

What do adult and embryonic stem cells do

Answer 6

Adult stem cell = can only differentiate into certain types of cells. For example, found in bone marrow, intestine lining and skin. Bone marrow stem cells can only become red and white cells