Stem Cells Flashcards
What type of cells are most organisms made up of?
Various specialised cells with different structures
What are stem cells?
An undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism which is capable of giving rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type, and from which certain other kinds of cell arise by differentiation.
What do stem cells have the benefit of doing?
Stem cells have the potential to develop into any type of cell.
What could Stem Cells potentially be used for?
They can potentially be used to replace damaged tissues (e.g. in patients with Parkinson’s disease).
What are the two types of Stem Cells?
Adult and Embryonic
What are Adult Stem Cells?
They are taken from areas that are adapted for the replacement and repair of tissues (such as; umbilical cord blood or bone marrow) and they have the potential to develop into a range of specialised cells, but not all types.
What are Embryonic Stem Cells?
They are taken from a developing embryo, so to produce them it’s necessary to clone embryos and they have the potential to develop into any kind of specialised cell
What are people’s view on Stem Cell Technology?
Some people are against stem cell technology. The Government recognises that it has the potential to benefit many people, so it allows the research. However, it is tightly regulated to hopefully avoid any misuse of the process.
