Stem Cells

Question 1

What are differentiated cells

Answer 1

Are cells specialised to carry out specific function.

Question 2

What are Undifferentiated cells

Answer 2

Cells that are not adapted to a specific task but have the ability to differentiate into specialised cells. These are called stem cells.

Question 3

What is potency

Answer 3

The ability for stem cells to differentiate. There are 3 types.

Question 4

What is totipotent

Answer 4

Can differentiate into any type of cell. A fertilised egg or zygote can produce whole organisms

Question 5

What is Pluripotent

Answer 5

Stem cells that can differentiate into all tissue types but not whole organisms. Present in early embryos.

Question 6

what is Multipotent

Answer 6

Stem cells can only differentiate to a range of cells within a certain type of tissue. An example haematopietic stem cells in bone marrow can differentiate into various types of blood cells

Question 7

Sources of animal stem cells

Answer 7

• Embryonic stem cells: present at early stage of embryo development and are totipotent
• Tissue adult stem cells: present throughout life. They are found in specific areas such as bone marrow. They are multipotent although they can be artificially triggered to be pluripotent.

Question 8

Sources of plant stem cells

Answer 8

Meristems in plants occur at tips of roots and shoots. They can also be found in between phloem and xylem. This is called vascular cambium. Meristems are pluripotent and tissue grows as plant grows.

Question 9

Why do people age

Answer 9

As stem cells don’t divide enough and aren’t efficiently replaced .

Question 10

Stem cell uses

Answer 10

Can treat certain diseases such as:
Heart disease 
Type 1 diabetes 
Parkinson's 
Alzheimer's 
Spinal injuries

Question 11

Other stem cell uses

Answer 11

Used to treat burns, used in drug trails and developmental biology.