Stem cells

Question 1

How can stem cells be used in medicine

Answer 1

Tumor development- stem cells divide very quickly. If scientists are unable to control the rate at which the transplanted cells divide inside a patient, a tumour may develop
* Disease transmission - viruses live inside cells. If donor stem cells are infected with a virus and this isn’t picked up, the virus could be passed on to the recipient and so make them sicker.
Rejection - if the transplanted cells aren’t grown using the patient’s own stem cells, the patient’s body may recognise the cells as foreign and trigger an immune response to try to get rid of them.
The patient can take drugs to suppress this response, but this makes them susceptible to diseases.

Question 2

What are stem cells

Answer 2

Cells that are unspecialised and capable of differentiating into a range of different cell types

Question 3

What are adult stem cells

Answer 3

Stem cells that can differentiate into a limited range of cell types eg bone marrow

Question 4

What are the uses of adult stem cells

Answer 4

Replacement of dead cells

Question 5

What are embryonic stem cells

Answer 5

Stem cells found in very early embryos that are unspecialised and capable of differentiating into any type of cell

Question 6

What are the uses of embryonic stem cells

Answer 6

Enable the growth and development of tissues i human embryos

Question 7

What is differentiation

Answer 7

Stem cells become specialised
Some genes switch on and off depending on cell type