SB2d - Stem Cells

Question 1

What are stem cells?

Answer 1

• Are cells that are not specialised
• And can produce specialised cells when they
  divide by mitosis

Question 2

What are the two types of stem cells and what specialised cells do they produce?

Answer 2

• Embryonic stem cells – produce ALL
  types of specialised cells
• Adult stem cells – produce some types
  of specialised cells

Question 3

Why can plants re-grow new shoots and leaves but animals cannot regrow a body part or a liver?

Answer 3

Adults have relatively few stem cells but plants have more That is why animals cannot regrow new limbs or liver, but plants can grow new shoots, roots and leaves

Question 4

Where can Embryotic stem cells be found?

Answer 4

• Embryonic stem cells can be collected from:
  * Embryos created for fertility treatments that are left over
  * The umbilical cord of babies

Question 5

Where can Adult stem cells be found?

Answer 5

Adult stem cells are found in various parts of the adult human body, such as the bone marrow and intestinal lining. They can divide an unlimited number of times but give rise to only a limited range of cell types, such as blood cells.

Question 6

Compare and contrast the benefits and drawbacks of Both Adult stem cell and Embryonic stem cells.

Answer 6

Adult stem cells do not run the risk of rejection if they are being collected from the person who is being treated but they do run the risk of rejection if collected from a different person, On the other hand they are also difficulty to identify and remove since they are mixed with differentiated cells, also they can only produce a range of specialized cells

Embryonic stem cell are easier to remove from tissue. Can produce a wide range of specialised cells but they do produce ethical issues due to needing to destroy
an embryo in order to get stem cells. Embryonic stem cell also may be rejected
when used in treatment, as the cells come from a different person rather than the patient