Stem Cells Flashcards

(areas covered: stem cells, cell differentiation, meristems, stem cells in medicine)

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1
Q

What are stem cells?

A

Undifferentiated cells that can divide by mitosis to become new cells, which then differentiate

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2
Q

Give two types of stem cells.

A
  • Embryonic stem cells
  • Adult stem cells
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3
Q

What are embryonic stem cells?

A
  • Found in early human embryos
  • They are able to divide and produce any type of cell
  • Important for growth and development of organisms
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4
Q

What are adult stem cells?

A
  • Only found in certain places, like bone marrow
  • They are less versatile as they can only produce certain cell types
  • Used to replace damaged cells in animals
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5
Q

Name the plant tissue that produces stem cells.

A

Meristem tissue

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6
Q

Where is meristem tissue found in plants?

A

In areas that are growing, such as the tips of the roots and shoots

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7
Q

(Exam-style question)

Describe the function of meristems in the growth of a plant.

A
  • Meristems are the only place in a plant that produce stem cells that are able to divide by mitosis
  • The new cells produced are able to differentiate into any type of cell in the plant, contributing to its growth
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8
Q

What can stem cells in plants be used to do?

A
  • Grow more rare species, preventing extinctions
  • Create identical plants with desired features e.g. disease resistance
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9
Q

(Exam-style question)

Explain one reason why scientists may prefer to use embryonic stem cells for research rather than adult stem cells.

A

Embryonic stem cells have the potential to produce any type of cell, whereas adult stem cells are less versatile

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10
Q

Suggest one reason why people are against research involving embryonic stem cells.

A

Some people think it’s wrong to destroy a potential human life

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11
Q

Give 3 potential risks scientists need to consider before transplanting stem cells to cure diseases.

A
  • Tumour development
  • Disease transmission
  • Rejection
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12
Q

Describe the risk of a tumour developing when transplanting stem cells.

A

A tumour may develop inside the patient if the rate at which the transplanted cells divide can’t be controlled

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13
Q

Describe the risk of disease transmission when transplanting stem cells.

A

There may be a risk of disease transmission from the donor to the recipient if viruses are present within the transplanted cells

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14
Q

Describe the risk of rejection when transplanting stem cells.

A

There may be a risk of an immune response being triggered if the transplanted cells have not been grown using the patient’s own stem cells

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