CELLULAR DIFFERENTIATION Flashcards
cellular differentiation
the process by which a cell expresses certain genes to produce proteins characteristics for that type of cell. this allows a cell to carry out specialised functions.
Differentiation into specialised cells from meristems in plants
meristems are regions of unspecialised cells in plants that can divide (self-renew) and/or differentiate
stem cells
stem cells are unspecialised cells in animals that can divide (self-renew) and/or differentiate
Differentiation into specialised cells from embryonic stem cells in animals
- cells in the very early embryo can differentiate into all the cell types that make up the organism
- pluripotent
-all genes can be switched on
-differentiate into any type of cell
Differentiation into specialised cells from (adult) tissue stem cells
- tissue stem cells are involved in growth, repair and renewal of cells found in that tissue
- multipotent
- For example, blood stem cells located in bone marrow can give rise to all types of blood cell.
pluripotent + multipotent
pluripotent: ESC can differentiate into all cell types
multipotent: stem cells can differentiate into all cell type found in a particular tissue
different uses of stem cells
therapeutic and research uses
therapeutic uses of stem cells
- therapeutic uses of stem cells should be exemplified by how they are used in corneal repair and the regeneration of damaged skin
- involve the repair of damaged or diseased organs or tissues
- Stem cells from the embryo can self renew, under the right conditions, in the lab
Research uses of stem cells
- involve stem cells being used as model cells to study how diseases develop or being used for drug testing
- Stem cell research provides information on how cell processes such as cell growth, differentiation and gene regulation work
The ethical issues of using embryonic stem cells
- Use of embryonic stem cells can offer effective treatments for disease and injury
- however, it involves destruction of embryos
