Stem Cells Flashcards
What are stem cells?
In specialized cells that can both reproduce itself I definitely and differentiate into specialized cells of one or more types.
What are stem cells able to do?
Replenish their own population and generate cells.
What can the cells they generate do?
Travel down specific differentiation pathways.
What is the blastocyst stage?
When stem cells can be isolated from early embryos.
What can embryonic stem (ES) cells do?
They can differentiate into a variety of specialized cells (eggs and sperm) and can reproduce indefinitely.
Where do stem cells serve to replace non reproducing specialized cells as needed?
The adult body.
What can adult stem cells not do?
Give rise to all cell types in the organism.
One type of stem cell in bone marrow can do what?
Generate all the diegferwnt types of blood cells.
The adult brain contains cells that produce what?
Certain types of nerve cells.
Cultured stem cells, from adults, can differentiate into what?
Many types of cells.
Data about differentiation can be provided by what?
Studying adult stem cells.
What is the main goal of studying stem cells?
To supply cells for repairing damaged or diseases organs.
