stem cells

Question 1

what are stem cells

Answer 1

they are unspecialised and undifferentiated cells

Question 2

what can stem cells do?
2 points

Answer 2

1.they are able to differentiate to produce specialised cells upon receiving appropriate molecular signals
2.and can undergo extensive proliferation and self-renewal by mitosis upon receiving appropriate molecular signals

Question 3

type of division stem cells undergo and why

Answer 3

symmetrical division: produce 2 identical daughter stem cells to ensure constant pool of stem cells
and asymmetrical division: produce 1 daughter and 1` progenitor cell progenitor to replace a population of specialised cells

Question 4

Potency of stem cells? 3 different potency and examples

Answer 4

1. totipotent: differentiate into all of the cell types that make up an entire organism including the extraembryonic tissue such as the placenta e.g fertilised egg to 8 cell stage
2. pluripotent: differentiate into all of the cell types that make up an entire organism except the extraembryonic tissue such as the placenta e.g inner cell mass of blastocyst
3. multipotent: candevelop into only a limited and related range of cell types e.g haematopoietic stem cells , lymphoid stem cells and myeloid stem cells

Question 5

Why use embryonic stem cells

Answer 5

no equivalent to human life; a cluster of human cells that have no differentiated into distinct organ tissue
can potentially treat a wide range of diseases as they have the potential to grow indefinitely in a lab env
more than a third of zygotes do not normally implant in the uterus
surplus embryos created via iVF are destroyed –> dun waste

Question 6

why no embryonic stem cells

Answer 6

some believe the embryo has the status of a human being as it has the potential to become one, tantamount to murder
slippery slope shit due to precedent

Question 7

what are iPSCs

Answer 7

induced pluripotent stem cells

Question 8

advantages of iPSCs

Answer 8

no ethical issues from usage of embryos as it is attained from adult tissues
easy to obtain adult tissue from donor without risk
no rejection by immune system thus no immunosuppressants
additional reproductive technology
helps research on disease development

Question 9

problems of iPSCs

Answer 9

low efficiency
can cause cancer due to insertional mutagenesis
ethical concerns (AGAIN)

Question 10

compare embryonic stem cells to adult stem cells
hint: 5 comparisons

Answer 10

differentiation ability; role in body, sources, advantages in research and therapy development, disadvantages, uses