stem cells Flashcards
Can stem cells produce more cells?
Yes, stem cells can produce lots more undifferentiated cells and can also differentiate into different types of cell.
What is a type of stem cell that is found in early life in humans?
The type of stem cell found in early human life is an embryonic stem cell and this can turn into any type of cell at all. (an embryo)
What is an embryo?
The early developmental stage of an animal while it is in the egg or within the uterus of the mother
What is an example of where you could find a stem cell in an adult and what can adult stem cells have the potential to do?
You could find a stem cell inside the bone marrow of an adult. Adult stem cells can only produce certain types of cells like blood cells.
How could a stem cell be used to cure a disease?
Stem cells can get cloned in a lab and be used for both medicine and research purposes. An example of this would be that embryonic cells could be used to replace faulty cells in sick people e.g nerve cells for people with paralysis.
How could you make sure the patient doesnt reject the embryonic cell?
You would make an embryo cell match the genes of the patient. (therapeutic cloning)
What could be the downside of using stem cells in medicine?
There are a lot of risks involved in using stem cells as they could be infected with a virus and pass it on to the patient causing their condition and heath to become worse.
What type of tissue is found in a plant where growth occurs?
Meristems is a tissue in a plant which is where the growth occurs in the tips of the roots and shoots. The meristems contain stem cells that can differentiate into any type if plant cell thought-out the whole of the plants life.
What can the stem cells in meristems be used to do?
These stem cells can be used to quickly and cheaply clone the plant.
