Cell & Tissue Differentiation Flashcards
1
Q
What are the defining characteristics of stem cells?
A
- Self-Renewal Capacity
- Retain potential to divide for lifetime of animal
- Daughter cells can either differentiate of remain stem cell depending on signals
- Different stem cells in different tissues
2
Q
What cells do stem cells depend on in order to divide?
A
Contact signals from stromal cells
3
Q
Where are Embryonic Stem (ES) cells found?
A
Derived from inner mass of blastocyst
4
Q
What factors control cell and tissue differentiation?
A
- Transcription Factors
- Cell Surface Receptor signalling pathways that regulate gene expression
5
Q
Where in the lining of the small intestine does cell proliferation occur?
A
In the crypts (Stem cells)
6
Q
Why did Gurdon and Yamanaka receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012?
A
Discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent
7
Q
Expression of what transcription factor is required to maintain stem cell features?
A
OCT4
