cells + control // stem cells

Question 1

Describe where stem cells are found in humans

Answer 1

They’re found in early human embryos. They can also be found in adults’ bone marrow

Question 2

Describe the function of stem cells in animals

Answer 2

Stem cells have the potential to turn into any kind of cell which can then be used for medicine and research. They can replace faulty cells in the human body (e.g. stem cells transferred from the bone marrow of a healthy person can replace faulty blood cells in a patient. They can also be used for cloning (to create identical cells) so the patient’s body doesn’t reject them as they have the same genes.

Question 3

Describe the function of stem cells in plants

Answer 3

Stem cells can produce identical plants. Stem cells can be used to produce clones of plants quickly and cheaply.

Question 4

Describe where stem cells are found in plants

Answer 4

The meristems (parts of the plant where growth occurs)

Question 5

Compare embryonic and adult stem cells in animals

Answer 5

Adults stem cells are used to replace faulty cells in specific areas whereas embryonic stem cells have the ability to differentiate into all kinds of specialised cells.

Question 6

Give examples of where stem cells may be used in medicine

Answer 6

Embryonic stem cells could be used to make insulin-producing cells for people with diabetes or nerve cells for people for people paralysed by spinal injuries.

Question 7

Identify benefits of using stem cells in medicine

Answer 7

• help doctors with research
• can be used to cure many diseases (medicinal use)
• requires only a small number of cells
• can grow into any kind of cell

Question 8

Identify risks of using stem cells in medicine

Answer 8

Religious:
- people believe embryos are potential human life
-
Ethical:
- tumours can form
- body can reject stem cells and cause infection
- difficulty of obtaining stem cells and long period of growth required before use
- stem cells require long period of growth before use
- can cause health problems in the long term

Question 9

How can stem cells be used to preserve rare plant species ?

Answer 9

Copies of the plant can be made by taking stem cells from the meristem of the plant and growing them into new, genetically identical plants (clones)

Question 10

Why might farmers like stem cells ?

Answer 10

They can produce identical whole plants cheaply and quickly. They can also be used to grow crops of identical plants that have desired features for farmers (e.g. disease resistance).