Stem Cells Flashcards
What are stem cells?
Undifferentiated cells that can differentiate into specialized cells.
Stem cells are crucial for growth and development in organisms.
How do stem cells differentiate?
By receiving specific instructions, stem cells divide by mitosis to become new cells that then differentiate.
Mitosis is a type of cell division that results in two daughter cells.
Where are embryonic stem cells found?
In early human embryos.
Embryonic stem cells can produce any type of cell in the human body.
What is the significance of embryonic stem cells?
They have the potential to divide and produce any kind of cell, essential for growth and development.
All cell types in a human originate from these few cells in the early embryo.
Do adults have stem cells?
Yes, but they are found in specific locations like bone marrow.
Adult stem cells are less versatile than embryonic stem cells.
What types of cells can adult stem cells produce?
Only certain types, not any cell type.
Adult stem cells are used for replacing damaged cells, such as skin or blood cells.
What are meristems?
Plant tissues that contain stem cells and are responsible for growth.
Meristems are found in areas of a plant where growth occurs.
What type of cells do meristems produce?
Unspecialized cells that can divide and form any cell type in the plant.
These cells act like embryonic stem cells in plants.
How long can the cells produced by meristems divide and differentiate?
For as long as the plant lives.
This is unlike human stem cells, which have limited capacity.
What specialized tissues do unspecialized cells from meristems form?
Xylem and phloem.
These tissues are essential for water and nutrient transport in plants.
Fill in the blank: Stem cells can divide by _______ to become new cells.
mitosis
True or False: Adult stem cells can produce any type of cell.
False
Adult stem cells are limited to producing certain cell types.
What are stem cells?
Unspecialised cells that can differentiate into specialized cells.
How are adult stem cells used in medicine?
They are used for treatments such as bone marrow transplants.
What can stem cells potentially be used to replace?
Specialized cells damaged by disease or injury.
What is one potential risk associated with stem cell therapy?
Tumour development due to uncontrolled cell division.
What is another risk related to disease transmission in stem cell therapy?
Infection from donor stem cells carrying viruses.
What is a risk of rejection in stem cell transplants?
The patient’s immune system may attack foreign transplanted cells.
What is a common treatment to suppress immune response after a stem cell transplant?
Immunosuppressive drugs.
What ethical issue is raised by using embryonic stem cells?
The potential life of human embryos vs. the need to cure patients.
Fill in the blank: Stem cells can be stimulated to differentiate into _______.
specialized cells.
True or False: All stem cell treatments have been fully researched and tested.
False.
What happens if the transplanted stem cells are not from the patient?
The body may recognize them as foreign and reject them.
What is the significance of stem cells in scientific research?
They hold potential for new cures for various diseases.
