Specialised Cells And Stem Cells Flashcards
Why are some cells specialised ??
They are specialised to carry out a particular function so their structures can vary
EXAMPLE
red blood cells are specialised for carrying oxygen and white blood cells are specialised for defending the body against disease
Embryonic stem cells can turn into ……
…… any type of cell !!
What is cell differentiation ??
It is the process of by which a cell changes to become specialised for its job
What do embryonic stem cells do as cells change ??
As cells change they develop different organelles and turn into different type of cells
What can undifferentiated cells do ??( stem cells )
They can divide to produce lots more undifferentiated cells
They can differentiate into different types of cell depending on what instructions they’re given
Where are stem cells found ??
They are found in early human embryos
Why are early human embryos exiting to doctors and researchers ??
Because they have the potential to turn into any kind of cell at all.
Adults also have stem cells but what is an example of a certain place where u can find them ??
In bone marrow
Unlike embryonic stem cells they can’t turn into any cell type only certain ones like such as blood cells
What can be grown to produce a clone (genetically identical cells)
Stem cells from embryos !!
They can be grown in a lab to produce clones and made to differentiate into specialised cells to use in medicine or research
Stem cells maybe able to cure many ….?
Diseases !!!
Medicine already uses adult stem cells to cure disease. For example stem cells transferred from the bone marrow of a healthy person can replace faulty blood cells in the patient who receives them
How could embryonic cells be used to replace faulty blood cells in sick people
You could make insulin producing cells for people with diabetes, nerve cells for people paralysed by spinal injuries
What is a risk involved in using stem cells in medicine ??
The stem cells grown in a lab could get contaminated with a virus which could be passed onto the patient and so make them sicker
What is a reason people are against stem cell research
Because they feel that human embryos shouldn’t be used for experiments since each one is a potential human life
Others think curing existing patients who are suffering is more important than the rights of embryos
However another point is that embryos used in research are usually unwanted ones from fertility clinics which if they weren’t used for research would be destroyed anyway
