Multicellularity Flashcards
What are emergent properties
Properties/characteristics/behaviours that arise from the interaction of different parts of the cell.
Multicellular organisms can perform functions that single cells cannot due to the emergent properties that arise with the collaboration of different cells.
What is multicellularity? What is it’s advantage?
Having or consisting of many cells
These cells are specialized to perform specific functions.
Having multiple different cells enables the organ system to develop and perform functions as whole and individual.
Difference cells are produced from the same stem cells so they can perform different functions
Example: RBC’s and WBC’s
How are cells differentiated from one another?
Cells are differentiated through gene expression
What is the concept of gene expression?
Gene expression states what genes are active and what genes are active in the cell.
The active/switched on genes determine the type of cell and what function it performs
Stem cells are the cells that have the potential to become any cell.
Properties of stem cells
- potency to become any cell and become specialized cells
- Self renewal: they have the ability to divide multiple times and still remain as stem cells
Cells undergo gene specification after a series of division.
What are the types of stem cells
Totipotent
Pluripotent
Multipotent
What are totipotent cells
They have the ability to divide into any type of cell including the placental tissue.
What are pluripotent stem cells
They are the cells which have the ability to become any cell apart from the placental tissue in the womb and other chorionic cells(cells part of the placenta development).
Example of totipotent stem cells
The zygote and cells that arise in the first few divisions
Meristematic cells in plants
Examples of pluripotent cells
Embryonic stem cells which are present in the embryo.
They form the inner mass in a blastocyst
What is a blastocyst
5-6 days after fertilization the egg is called a blastocyst.
Blastocyst is a ball of cells that divide rapidly.
Inner group of cells in a blastocyst become the embryo and the outer group of cells are there to protect the embryo.
What is a multipotent cell
They are adult stem cells.
They have the potency to become different cells but only to a certain extent.
They are limited to the cell types of the tissue of their origin
Examples of a multipotent cell
Bone marrow stem cells
Have the ability to become different type of blood cells
Main 4 types of cell groups/tissues:
- germ cells (reproductive cells)
- Endoderm cells (enzymes, digestive system)
- Ectoderm derivatives (nerve, skin, hair)
- mesoderm derivatives (heart blood,etc)
