Cell Differentiation, Cell Death And Stem Cells Flashcards
Define differentiation
process where a less specified cell becomes more specified
Cells differentiate to specialise for different functions
define zygote
fertilized egg cell that results from the union of a female gamete (egg, or ovum) with a male gamete (sperm)
Is a zygote totipotent/ pluripotent or unipotent
A zygote is totipotent
define totipotent
Potential to become any cell in body or placenta
define pluripotent
Can differentiate into any cell
pluripotent (able to give rise to all cell types in an adult)
pluripotent means capable of developing into differentiated cells. Pluripotent cells are the embryonic stem cells that have the unlimited capacity to divide, self-renew and differentiate into cells of early primary germ cell layers, namely mesoderm, endoderm, and ectoderm.
define unipotent
A cell that only has the ability to differentiate into a single specialised cell type.
Explain journey from zygote to blastocyst to gastrula
What is the role of transcription factors in specification
Describe experiments involved where cell fate can be changed/ influenced by external signals
Describe changes of cell commitment during development i.e. specification, determination, differentiation
What is the epigenetic landscape in cellular reprogramming?
define progenitor
What is trans-differentiation in a lab? E.g. inducing pluripotency
What are the types of cell death
apoptosis
necrosis
What type of cell death is natural vs unnatural
