Stem Cells Flashcards
Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have not yet specialised to perform a specific function. They can create more stem cells or differentiate (become a different type of body cell) to perform another function.
Bone marrow
In human adults, stem cells can be found in bone marrow (as well as other tissues and organs).
Adult stem cells differentiate into fewer cell types than stem cells in embryos. They are used to replace dying cells and damaged tissues.
Embryos
The stem cells in embryos can differentiate into most cell types, to produce all of the cell types that will make up the organism.
Plant meristems
Plant stem cells are found in the meristem tissue. Plant stem cells can differentiate into all types of plant cell throughout the life of the plant. This allows plants to grow for their whole lives.
Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that haven’t yet specialised to do a specific function. They can create more stem cells or differentiate (become a different type of body cell) to perform another function.
Stem cells are undifferentiated
This means that they haven’t yet specialised to do a specific function. They can create more stem cells or differentiate (become a different type of body cell) to perform another function.
Uses of Stem Cells
Stem cells can be used for many different medical purposes: Stem cell treatments
Stem cells may be able to replace damaged cells in the body. For example, stem cells may replace the damaged cells that cause diabetes or paralysis. They can also be used to treat patients with burn injuries, arthritis and Parkinson’s disease.
Uses of Stem Cells
Stem cells can be used for many different medical purposes: Therapeutic cloning
Therapeutic cloning is a process that produces (creates) an embryo with the same genes as the patient.
Stem cells taken from this embryo will have the same DNA as the patient. This means that the patient’s body will not reject the stem cells or body cells made from the embryo’s stem cells.
This is ideal for use in stem cell medical treatments.
Therapeutic cloning is a process that produces
an embryo with the same genes as the patient. Stem cells taken from this embryo will have the same DNA as the patient, so the patient’s body will not reject the stem cells or body cells made from the stem cells.
Disadvantages of Stem Cells
Using stem cells in medical treatment can have some downsides: Viral infections
Stem cell transplantation could transfer viral infections.
Ethical beliefs
Some people disagree with the use of stem cells on ethical or religious grounds:
They believe that life begins at conception, which means that the embryo is alive.
They therefore view the use of embryonic stem cells as ‘killing’ an embryo.
Rejection
As with other organ transplants, introducing stem cells into a patient could cause the patient’s immune system to reject and destroy the new cells.
Some people disagree with the use of stem cells on
ethical grounds. They believe that life begins at conception, so view the embryo as alive. They therefore view use of embryonic stem cells as ‘killing’ an embryo.
