Key Area 4: Meristems and Stem Cells Flashcards
What is differentiation?
Differentiation is when a cell becomes specialised.
How does gene expression result in different cell types?
Different genes are switched on or off in different specialised cells which means they only produce the proteins required for that particular cell type.
Where’s the unspecialised cell production cite in animals cells?
Zygote
Where’s the unspecialised cell production site in plant cells?
Meristems
What are the two possible fates of a stem cell?
1) To become differentiated
2) Self-renewal by mitosis
What are the two types of stem cell?
1) Embryonic stem cell
2) Tissue stem cell
Describe an embryonic stem cell
These cells can become any cell in the body through differentiation
Describe tissue stem cells
These cells can only differentiate until a limited range of cell type such as skin or blood cell
State possible therapeutic purposes for stem cells
- to treat Alzheimer’s
- to treat Parkinson’s
- to treat cystic fibrosis
- cornea transplants
- skin grafts
State three cellular processes that can be studied using stem cell research
- cell growth
- differentiation
- gene expression
How are stem cells used as model cells?
- to research how diseases develop
- drug testing
State ethical considerations when using stem cells for research
- the extraction of an embryonic stem cell for research results in the destruction of a potential human life
- the death of a very young embryo is not a serious moral concern when you consider that the result of research has the potential to benefit humanity
What must you have to carry out stem cell research?
A licence
What are the two laws regulating stem cell use?
1) Human fertilisation and embryology act
2) Human reproductive cloning act
