Stem cells Flashcards
What are stem cells ?
1) Differentiation = process by which cells change to become specialised for its job . Undifferentiated cells = stem cells and can divide to produce lots more undifferentiated cells
2) They can differentiate into different types of cells, depending on the instructions they are given
Where are stem cells found ? and was is the advantage of that ?
In early human embryo - Different types of cells found in humans come from few cells in early embryo
Exciting for doctors and medical researchers as they are able to have the potential to turn into any kind of cell
Where are stem cells found in adults ? and was is the disavantage of that ?
found in certain places = bone marrow, blood, skin, heart, and brain
can’t turn into any cell type only certain ones like blood cells
What types of stem cells can be grown in a lab? And why ?
Stem cells from embryo and bone marrow to produce clones and made to differentiate into specialised cells to use in medicine or research
These stem cells have potential applications in regenerative medicine and research.
Stem cell use
medicine already used adult stem cells to cure disease. For example : Stem cells transferred from bone marrow of a healthy person can replace faulty blood cells in patient who received them.
Embryonic stem cells used to replace faulty cells in sick people. You can make insulin - producing cells for diabetics or nerve cells for people paralysed by spinal cord.
- use for Leukaemia
What is therapeutic cloning ?
Risks involved in growing stem cells in medicine
An embryo could be made to have same genetic information as the patient. Means stem cells produced from it also has same genes so wouldn’t be rejected by patients body if used to replace faulty cells.
- stem cells grown may be contaminated with virus and pass on to patient and make them sick
Why are some people against stem cell research ?
1) human embryos = potential life so shouldn’t be used for experiments
2) Fertility clinics should be banned
3) Campaigners feel that scientist should concentrate more on finding and developing other sources of stem cells, so people can be helped w/o use of stem cells.
Why are some people for stem cell research ?
1) curing existing suffering patients is more important than rights of embryo
2) embryos used in research are usually unwanted one from fertility clinics which would have been destroyed.
In some countries, stem cell research is banned but its allowed in the UK as it follows strict guidelines.
Where can stem cells be found in plants ?
meristem - where growth occurs
2) throughout plants entire life, cells in meristem tissues can differentiate into any type of plant cell
What are these stem cells used for ?
producing clones of whole plants quickly and cheaply
They be be used to grow more plants of rare species
They be used to grow crops of identical plants that have desired features for farmers = disease resistance
