Stem Cells

Question 1

What are the cells called which can develop into different types of cells depending on what instructions they are given?

Answer 1

Stem cells

Question 2

Where are stem cells found

Answer 2

In early human embryos

Question 3

Where are stem cells found in adults?

Answer 3

Bone marrow

Question 4

How are adult stem cells different from embryonic stem cells?

Answer 4

Adult stem cells aren’t as versatile as embryonic stem cells because they can’t turn into any cell types, only certain ones

Question 5

What does medicine already use Embyonic stem cells to do?

Answer 5

Medicine already uses embryonic stem cells to cure disease

Question 6

Bone marrow contains stem cells. What does this do?

Answer 6

Bone marrow contains stem cells that can turn into new blood cells to replace the faulty old ones

Question 7

To get cultures of one specific type of cell, how do research is try to control the differentiation of stem cells?

Answer 7

Researchers try to control the differentiation of the stem cells by changing the environment they are growing in

Question 8

What type of cell do embryonic stem cells turn into?

Answer 8

Embryonic stem cells can turn into any type of cell

Question 9

What are stem cells?

Answer 9

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can develop into different types of specialised cells

Question 10

Describe how stem cells could be used to treat disorders

Answer 10

Stem cells could be grown into a particular type of cell which can then be used to replace faulty cells

Question 11

Explain why embryonic stem cells have the potential to treat more disorders than adult stem cells

Answer 11

Embryonic stem cells have the potential to develop into any kind of cell, whereas adult stem cells can only develop into certain types of cells as embryonic stem cells are more versatile