Menon 4

Question 1

The ability of a stem cell to differentiate into a variety of cell types is called ________________.

Answer 1

pluripotency

Question 2

________________ are undifferentiated cells that can divide repeatedly while maintaining their undifferentiated state.

Answer 2

Stem cells

Question 3

Name the three germ layers that pluripotent stem cells originate from: ________________, ________________, and ________________.

Answer 3

Ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm

Question 4

A ________________ stem cell can generate every cell type, including extraembryonic tissues.

Answer 4

totipotent

Question 5

A ________________ stem cell can only generate one cell type.

Answer 5

unipotent

Question 6

The first successful isolations of ES cells were done using what two animals?

Answer 6

Mice and humans

Question 7

________________ stem cells are generated by reprogramming differentiated cells.

Answer 7

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)

Question 8

In what year did Campbell et al. clone a sheep by nuclear transfer from a cultured cell line?

Answer 8

1996

Question 9

Gurdon demonstrated that adult frogs could be derived from the nuclei of single somatic cells in what year?

Answer 9

1962

Question 10

Human embryonic stem cells were derived by Tachibana M, et al. in 2013 using ________________.

Answer 10

Somatic cell nuclear transfer

Question 11

What is the original cell in the gonad that gives rise to the germline called?

Answer 11

Primordial germ cell (PGC)

Question 12

What type of stem cell is a zygote?

Answer 12

Totipotent

Question 13

Mouse ES cells were first isolated in ________________.

Answer 13

1981

Question 14

What process is used to “reverse” a differentiated somatic cell into its pluripotent state?

Answer 14

Reprogramming

Question 15

________________ cell nuclear transfer is one method of reprogramming.

Answer 15

Somatic

Question 16

________________ pluripotent stem cells are generated by reprogramming differentiated cells.

Answer 16

Induced

Question 17

Gurdon used ________________ to demonstrate that adult organisms could be derived from the nuclei of single somatic cells.

Answer 17

frogs

Question 18

According to the Weissman model, ________________ cells give rise to sperm and egg cells.

Answer 18

primordial germ

Question 19

Besides embryonic stem cells, name one other type of stem cell: ________________

Answer 19

Possible answers include: Somatic, iPS cells, multipotent, or unipotent

Question 20

What term describes the ability of a stem cell to generate cells from all three embryonic germ layers?

Answer 20

Pluripotency

Question 21

________________ stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass of pre-implantation embryos.

Answer 21

Embryonic

Question 22

What does PGC stand for?

Answer 22

Primordial germ cells

Question 23

Name three examples of somatic cells: ________________, ________________, and ________________.

Answer 23

Possible answers include: neurons, myocytes, and epithelia

Question 24

The ________________ barrier states that the germline is separate from the soma.

Answer 24

Weissman

Question 25

________________ and ________________ were the first to isolate pluripotent cells from mouse embryos.

Answer 25

Evans MJ and Kaufman MH

Question 26

Takahashi and Yamanaka published their groundbreaking paper on iPS cells in ________________.

Answer 26

2006

Question 27

Describe the developmental pathway from a zygote to a somatic cell, including intermediate stages and the concept of "stemness".

Answer 27

A zygote, a totipotent cell, progresses through cell divisions to form a morula and then a blastocyst. The blastocyst contains the inner cell mass, which harbors pluripotent stem cells capable of generating the three germ layers. Further differentiation leads to multipotent stem cells and eventually somatic cells with specialized functions. "Stemness" refers to the decreasing potential of a cell to differentiate into various cell types as it progresses down this developmental pathway.

Question 28

Explain the significance of the Weissman barrier and how it relates to the discovery of iPSCs.

Answer 28

The Weissman barrier proposed a separation between the germline, producing gametes (sperm and egg), and the soma (body cells). It implied that somatic cells couldn't contribute to the germline or revert to a totipotent state. However, iPSCs challenged this barrier, being generated by reprogramming somatic cells to a pluripotent state. This showed that somatic cells could be reversed to an earlier developmental stage with broader potential.

Question 29

Provide one application of stem cell technology for regenerative medicine:

Answer 29

Example: repairing nerve damage

Question 30

What is the name of the model that describes the cellular composition of animals and includes concepts like the primordial germ cell and the germline?

Answer 30

Weissman model

Question 31

True or False: PGC are diploid.

Answer 31

True (orally on 10/9)

Question 32

Rank the types of stem cells in terms of how many types of cells they can give rise to from greatest to least.

Answer 32

Totipotent > pluripotent > multipotent > unipotent

Question 33

When cells are irradiated (like fibroblasts in old ESC experiments), what stage of the cell cycle are they in?

Answer 33

G0 (orally on 10/9)

Question 34

Dolly the sheep is an example of breaking the _________.

Answer 34

Weissman barrier

Question 35

How many transcription factors are needed to break the Weissman's barrier?

Answer 35

4