non translated DNA

Question 1

1. What are Totipotent stem cells?

Answer 1

Cells that can divide in unlimited numbers and can differentiate into any type of body cell; found in the zygote or cells of a very early embryo;

Question 2

2. What happens during cell specialisation?

Answer 2

Differentiation of cells into specialised cells due to the cells only translating part of their DNA.

Question 3

3. What are pluripotent stem cells?

Answer 3

They can divide in unlimited numbers into almost any type of cell (not placental cells) and can be used in treating human disorders. They are found in embryos.

Question 4

4. What are the characteristics of stem cells?

Answer 4

Stem cells will continue replicating; They are undifferentiated cells that can develop into other cells; They may be totipotent, multipotent or pluripotent;

Question 5

5. What are multipotent cells?

Answer 5

Cells that can differentiate into a limited number of specialised cells. Examples are adult stem cells in bone marrow, and umbilical cord blood stem cells.

Question 6

6. What are unipotent cells?

Answer 6

Cells that can only differentiate into one type of cell. They are derived from multipotent stem cells and are made in adult tissue, an example is cardiomyocytes which form heart muscle cells.

Question 7

7. What are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS)?

Answer 7

Pluripotent stem cells that can be produced from unipotent cells or somatic cells (body cells) by switching genes on that were previously switched off using the appropriate protein transcription factors. They can be used to treat human disorders such as brain damage, paralysis, heart damage, liver failure.

Question 8

8. What are the advantages of iPS than other therapies?

Answer 8

Use of iPS cells is long-term; Use of iPS cells has less chance of rejection; Use of iPS cells should be a single treatment; side effects from using other therapies;