Stem Cells

Question 1

what are stem cells?

Answer 1

• undifferentiated cells that can divide by mitosis and differentiate and specialise into different types of cells

Question 2

what is a totipotent stem cell and where is it found?

Answer 2

• cells that can differentiate into any type of cell including placental cells
• found for a limited time in early mammalian embryos

Question 3

what is a pluripotent stem cell and where is it found?

Answer 3

• cells that can differentiate into almost any type of cell except placental cells
• found in embryos and develop from totipotent cells

Question 4

what is a multipotent stem cell and where is it found?

Answer 4

• cells that can differentiate into a few, limited types of specialised cells
• found in mature mammals

Question 5

what is a unipotent stem cell and where is it found?

Answer 5

• cells that can differentiate into one type of specialised cell
• found in mature mammals

Question 6

what is an example of a unipotent stem cell?

Answer 6

• cardiomyocyte stem cells can only differentiate into heart muscle cells

Question 7

what are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) ?

Answer 7

• type of stem cell produced from unipotent stem cells
• specific transcription factors are used to make a unipotent stem cell pluripotent by bringing about the expression and inhibition of certain genes

Question 8

why are iPS cells useful?

Answer 8

• they can develop into a wide range of different types of tissue which could potentially be used to treat people with certain diseases