Lecture 8 - Adult Stem Cells

Question 1

Adult Stem Cells:

Answer 1

Undifferentiated cells that replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues

Question 2

Developmental pathways that regulate stem cells and their behaviour are frequently activated in cancer
TRUE OR FALSE

Answer 2

TRUE

e.g. Wnt, Hedgehog, Notch

Question 3

LGR5:

Answer 3

• Marker in stem cells in small intestine
• Mutations in LGR5 -> Cancer
• Important in development of stem cells into other cell types (e.g. goblet cells)
• Other stem cells markers have been identified (e.g. Bmi1) but they overlap, they can stand-in for one another

Question 4

The Stem Cell Niche:

Answer 4

The environment around the stem cells

Provides support

• Metabolic
• Signalling
• Structural
• Mechanical

Influences behaviour

Question 5

The probability that a stem cell exits the niche (i.e. stops being a stem cell) is related to its BLANK

Answer 5

The probability that a stem cell exits the niche (i.e. stops being a stem cell) is related to its position

Therefore, Location is a driver for differentiation.

Question 6

Stem cells pause in [WHICH PHASE OF THE CELL CYCLE] before committing to the next cell cycle, this may provide time to interpret signals from the environment to make decisions about proliferation/differentiation

Answer 6

Stem cells pause in G1 before committing to the next cell cycle, this may provide time to interpret signals from the environment to make decisions about proliferation/differentiation