Stem Cells

Question 1

What is the scientific term for red blood cells

Answer 1

Erythrocytes

Question 2

Describe a red blood cells shape and what the benefits are

Answer 2

Flattened bison cave shape to increase Surface area, allowing more efficient diffusion of oxygen

Question 3

Out of the sensory neurons and motor neurons which is in the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system

Answer 3

Central- motor
Peripheral- sensory

Question 4

What are the differences between adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells

Answer 4

Adult can differentiate into any cell in the body whereas embryonic can only differentiate into specific cells

Question 5

What is striated muscle cells referring to

Answer 5

Striped appearance of skeletal muscles

Question 6

Describe the process By Which cells become specialised (differentiation)

Answer 6

Multicellular organisms have a diverse range of specialised cells that all originate as undifferentiated stem cells, which Can continually divide and become specialised

Question 7

What is erythropoiesis

Answer 7

The process by which we get a red blood cell

Question 8

What does the ectoderm become

Answer 8

Skin, sweat glands, hair, nervous system

Question 9

What does the endoderm become

Answer 9

Lungs, liver, pancreas, stomach, intestines

Question 10

What does the mesoderm become

Answer 10

Muscle, bone, heart, kidneys, bladder, sex organs.

Question 11

What is the process of haematopoisesis

Answer 11

The process of a stem cell developing into a specialised blood cell

Question 12

What are 4 sources of stem cells

Answer 12

Embryos up to 16 days after fertilisation
Umbilical cord blood
The placenta
Adult stem cells such as in the bone marrow

Question 13

What are 3 advantages to using embryonic stem cells

Answer 13

-almost unlimited growth potential
-can differentiate into any type in the body
-less chance of genetic Damage due to the accumulation of mutations than with adult stem cells

Question 14

What are 3 disadvantages to using embryonic stem cells

Answer 14

-more risk of becoming tumour cells than with adult stem cells
-likely to be genetically different from an adult patient receiving the tissue
-renal of cells from the embryo kills it, unless only one or two are taken

Question 15

What are 4 advantages to using cord blood stem cells

Answer 15

-easily obtained and stored
-commercial collection and storage sources already available
-the umbilical cord is discarded either way
-fully compatible with the tissue of the adult that grows from the baby; so no rejection problems

Question 16

What are 2 disadvantages to using cord blood stem cells

Answer 16

-limited quantities of stem cells from one baby’s cord
-limited capacity To differentiate into different cell types; only naturally develop into blood cells

Question 17

What are 3 advantages to using adult stem cells

Answer 17

-fully compatible with the adults tissues, rejection problem does not occur
-removal of stem cells does not kill the adult from which cells are taken from
-less chance of malignant tumours developing from embryonic stem cells

Question 18

What are 3 disadvantages of using adult stem cells

Answer 18

-difficult to obtain as there are very few of them and the are buried deep in tissues
-less growth potential than embryonic stem cells
-limited capacity to differentiate into different cell types

Question 19

What does iPS cells stand for and how are they created

Answer 19

IPS (induced pluripotent stem) cells can be produced from adult somatic cells using appropriate protein transcription factors to overcome some of the ethical issues with using embryonic stem cells

Question 20

What reasons are there that show iPS cells could be used in medical treatment instead of embryonic stream cells

Answer 20

IPS cells have shown a self-renewal property, as they can divide indefinitely to give limitless supplies

Question 21

What is the term given to the specialisation of blood cells

Answer 21

Haematopoeisis