stem cells

Question 1

What is a stem cell?

Answer 1

It is a relatively unspecialised cell that can give rise to one or more types of specialised cells. They have the unique ability to self-renew/differentiate into various cell types in response to appropriate signals within the body (tissue repair, replacement, regeneration)

Question 2

What are some unique features of stem cells?

Answer 2

1. Unlimited capabilities: they can continually divide + reproduce for long periods (proliferation)
2. Non-differentiated cells with unspecialised functions: no tissue-specific structures
3. Can differentiate into specific cell types under appropriate conditions

Question 3

What are the 3 types of potency of stem cells?

Answer 3

tolipotent, pluripotent, multipotent

Question 4

What are tolipotent cells? What is an example of a tolipotent cell?

Answer 4

Tolipotent cells can form all the cell types and placental cells in an organism. It is usually used to describe zygotes (formed when sperm and egg unite)

Question 5

What are pluripotent cells? What is an example of a pluripotent cell?

Answer 5

Pluripotent cells have the potential to give rise to all of the cell types that make up the body of an organism. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent (derived from blastocyst)

Question 6

What are multipotent cells?

Answer 6

Multipotent cells are unspecialised cells that can differentiate into more than one cell type but are more limited than pluripotent cells.

Question 7

What are 2 examples of multipotent cells?

Answer 7

Umbilical cord blood stem cells are multipotent and can differentiate into different types of blood cells.
Adult stem cells are also multipotent. They are undifferentiated cells found in ‘adult’ tissues throughout the body which usually give rise to only a few related types of specialised cells - for maintaining + repair of tissue