Key Area 1.4 Cellular differentiation Flashcards
What is cellular differentiation?
The process in which an unspecialised cell becomes specialised by expressing genes for that cell type
What is selective gene expression?
Once a cell differentiates it only expresses the genes that produce the proteins characteristic for that type of cell
What are stem cells?
Unspecialised cells in animals
What are the 2 main types of stem cells?
Embryonic stem cells and adult tissue stem cells
What makes embryonic stem cells different to adult stem cells?
Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into all types of cells
What are embryonic stem cells said to be?
Pluripotent
Where are embryonic stem cells received from?
Embryos
Where are adult stem cells received from?
Tissues and organs of adults and children
What makes adult stem cells different to embryonic?
Adult stem cells can only differentiate into cells closely related to where they are found
What are adult stem cells said to be?
Multipotent
Name 2 therapeutic uses of stem cells.
Treating leukaemia by replacing cancerous bone barrow with the bone marrow of a healthy donor.
Treating severe burns by growing sheets of skin made from a patients own stem cells and using these for grafts.
How can stem cell research be used?
Can be used for drug testing, Study diseases and their development and teach us about processes like differentiation and gene regulation.
What are some ethical issues involving stem cells?
The use of embryonic stem cells is controversial as it involves the destruction of a human embryo.
What are meristems?
Unspecialised plant cells
What do meristems do?
Meristem can divide into more meristematic cells or become a specialised plant cell
