Stem cells Flashcards
What are “stem cells”?
- Stem cells are unspecialised cells that have the potential to change into many other cell types.
What 2 types of stem cells are there?
- Adult stem cells
- Embryonic stem cells
What 2 processes can a stem cell undergo?
- Replication
- Differentiation
How does a stem cell know whether it should replicate or differentiate?
- Depends on instructions given to cell.
How does a stem cell know what cell it should differentiate into?
- Depends on instructions given to cell.
What is the issue with using donor organs?
- Donor organ doesn’t have same antigens.
- Immunosuppressants need to be used: harmful to patient.
What are the 3 advantages of using a patient’s adult stem cells to replace faulty cells?
- It won’t be rejected by the patient’s body.
- Quick recovery
- Reliable (used for many years. )
What is the disadvantage of using a patient’s adult stem cells to replace faulty cells?
- They are multipotent (can only change into certain types of cells.)
- Extract from bone marrow = tres painful
- Cancer/ viral infections
What does “multipotent” mean?
- Multipotent: can only become limited types of cells.
What are the 3 advantages of using a embryonic stem cells to replace faulty cells?
- They are “pluripotent” - can differentiate into any type of cell.
- Painless
- Treats many diseases
What are the diadvantages of using a embryonic stem cells to replace faulty cells?
- Religious and ethical issues
- Viral infections
- Potential tumour
What is meant by “therapeutic cloning?”
In therapeutic cloning an embryo is produced with the same genes as
the patient. Stem cells from the embryo are not rejected by the patient’s
body so they may be used for medical treatment.
What is the significance of “therapeutic cloning?”
- Embryo won’t be rejected by body.
- Embryo can change into any type of cell.
Why isn’t the embryonic cell rejected by the patient’s body in “therapeutic cloning”?
- The adult cell genetic info instructs the cell to produce the same antigens as body.
What is the difference between plants and animals in differentiation?
• Most types of animal cell differentiate at an early stage.
• Many types of plant cells retain the ability to differentiate throughout
life.
What is “meristem tissue”?
- Meristem is made up of unspecialised cells that can change into any type of cell.
What is the plant’s version of embryonic stem cells known as?
- Meristem cells.
Where are “adult stem cells” found?
- Adult stem cells are found in bone marrow.
What 3 conditions may stem cells be able to treat?
- Diabetes
- Paralysis
- Sickle cell anaemia
Why are stem cells in meristems useful?
- Rare species can be cloned to proect from extinction.
- Crops with special features (ie. disease resistance) can be cloned to produce large numbers.
economical and quick
Where are the “embryonic stem cells” used from?
- Embryonic stem cells are often from IVF.
What is the FUNCTION of adult stem cells?
- To produce specialised cells for repair.
ie. red and white blood cells
Why are stem cells good to use?
- Avoids the need of transplant
- Avoids patient’s body rejecting organ.
- Avoids need to wait for donor
Where are the “meristems” often found in plants?
- Located in the tips of shoots/ roots.
