Stem cells Flashcards
Stem cell
Cells that have not yet been differentiated for a specific purpose
Present in embryos, as well as in some places in the adult body
Embryonic stem cells vs adult stem cells
Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into any kind of specialised cell
Adult stem cells have limited specialisation
Embryonic cells can have problems due to how rapid they divide
Adult stem cell transplants may be rejected by patient due to unfamiliarity, and trigger an immune response
Embryonic stem cells may be seen as unethical
Therapeutic cloning
Producing an embryo with the same genes as the patient
Makes stem cells that be transplanted into the patient without being rejected by patient’s immune system
How does therapeutic cloning work?
Nucleus removed from cell of a patient
Nucleus transferred to egg cell from a donor, who’s nucleus had been removed
Cell is stimulated to divide by electric shock
Cell develops into embryo
Stem cells from this embryo are differentiated to replace cells that stopped working, ie pancreas
Meristems
Plant stem cells
Can differentiate into any type of plant tissue at whatever point
