Stem cells Flashcards
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can become any type of specialised cell.
What are the two types of stem cells?
Embryonic stem cells
Adult stem cells
Where are embryonic stem cells found?
Embryonic stem cells are taken from embryos.
What are embryonic stem cells known as?
Totipotent and pluripotent
Where are adult stem cells found?
In skin and bone ( bone marrow)
What are adult stem cells known as?
Multipotent
What is the definition of totipotent?
Totipotent means that it can become any specialised cell it ‘desires’
What is the definition of pluripotent?
Pluripotent means that it can be any cell inside the human body.
What is the definition of multipotent?
Multipotent means it can only differentiate into a few specialised cell types.
What are the positives of embryonic stems cells?
They are easy to extract from an embryo
They produce and type of cell
What is a negative of embryonic stem cells?
An embryo is destroyed when the cells are removed. Some people believe embryos have a right to live.
What the positives of adult stem cells?
No embryo is destroyed, so not an ethical issue.
Will not cause rejection by the body if taken from the person being treated
What are the negatives of adult stem cells?
Produces only a few types of cell.
