Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Biology > Stem Cells > Flashcards

Stem Cells Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Definition: Stem cell

A
  • undifferentiated / unspecialised with the ability to undergo many rounds of mitotic division and renew long-term, and produce specialised cell types in the body
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Unique Properties of Stem Cells

A

1) unspecialised
2) capable of self-renewal
3) can differentiate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Unique Properties of Stem Cells

1) UNSPECIALISED

A
  • have not developed into cells that perform any specific function
  • unspecialised but can differentiate into specialised cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Unique Properties of Stem Cells

2) CAPABLE OF SELF-RENEWAL

A
  • able to divide and produce copies of themselves through proliferation, leading to self-renewal
  • resulting daughter cells possess same developmental and replicative potential as parent stem cell
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Unique Properties of Stem Cells

3) CAN DIFFERENTIATE

A
  • can divide and produce cells that have the potential to become more specific cell types, tissues and organs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

TOTIPOTENT cells

A
  • contain all genetic information needed for all structures and functions that will arise throughout life cycle of organism
  • can form all adult body cell types and specialised cells needed for embryo to develop (extraembryonic membranes like placenta)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

PLURIPOTENT cells

A
  • ability to give rise to cell types that can develop to form the 3 germ layers (mesoderm, endoderm, ectoderm) from which all body cell types arise
  • unable to produce cell types that form the extraembryonic membranes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

MULTIPOTENT cells

A
  • multiple cell and tissue types
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

UNIPOTENT cells

A
  • only one differentiated cell type
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Types of Stem Cells

A

1) Zygotic
2) Embryonic
3) Adult

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Details of ZYGOTIC stem cells

A
  • derived from zygote immediately after fertilisation

- totipotent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Details of EMBRYONIC stem cells

A
  • derived from inner cell mass of blastocysts that are 5-7 days old
  • pluripotent
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Details of MATURE / ADULT stem cells

A
  • found in differentiated tissues of the body at any stage in development
  • multipotent
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Details of CORD BLOOD-DERIVED EMBRYONIC-LIKE stem cells

A
  • multipotent cells derived from umbillical cord blood

- less versatile than ESCs but may have more potential than ASCs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs)

A
  • most valuable type of stem cells; pluripotent and can produce any type of body cell
  • obtained from inner cell mass of blastocyst
  • can proliferate indefinitely in culture but still retain an unrestricted developmental potential
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Characteristics and Normal Functions of ESCs

A
  • long-term self-renewal; able to undergo an unlimited number of symmetrical divisions w/o differentiating
  • clonogenic; single ESC can give rise to colony of genetically identical cells with same properties
  • give rise to different cell types derived from 3 germ layers
  • capable into developing into all foetal tissues
17
Q

Derivatives of HESCs

1) In-vitro fertilisation

A
  • from embryos fertilised in-vitro; NOT from womens’ bodies
18
Q

Derivatives of HESCs

2) Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)

A
  • transplanting nucleus of an already differentiated adult somatic cell into denucleated unfertilised egg
  • inner cell mass of blastocyst removed and cultured
19
Q

Advantages of HESCs

A

1) cell line viable for long time
2) ready source from infertility treatments
3) large numbers can be cultured
4) use chemical or hormonal signals to specialise into desired tissue

20
Q

Disadvantages of HESCs

A

1) Ethical issues; HESCs isolated by destroying the embryo to remove inner cell mass
2) Risk of rejection by immune system of host; source is from “unrelated” source and not the patient himself
3) Difficulty in controlling what cell types ESCs will differentiate into

21
Q

Adult Stem Cells (ASCs)

A
  • multipotent; found in differentiated tissues of the body at any stage of development
22
Q

Characteristics of ASCs

A
  • long-term self-renewal; make identical copies of themselves for long time
  • clonogenic; a single ASC can give rise to a colony of genetically identical cells that have the same properties as the parent stem cell
  • able to give rise to fully differentiated cells with mature phenotypes and are capable of specialised functions
23
Q

Derivatives of ASCs

A
  • umbillical cord (blood)
  • placenta
  • specialised tissues and organs in the body; brain, bone marrow, muscle etc.
24
Q

Definiton: Transdifferentiation

SUBSET of PLASTICITY

A
  • ASCs being changeable in response to regenerative signals but differentiation eventually causes them to cross germ layer barrier (e.g mesoderm to ectoderm etc.)
25
Q

Definiton: Plasticity

A
  • ASCs being changeable in response to regenerative signals within the same germ layer

ONLY APPLICABLE FOR ASCs AS TOTIPOTENT AND PLURIPOTENT SCs ARE NATURALLY ABLE TO PRODUCE CELLS OF DIFFERENT LINEAGES

26
Q

Normal functions of ASCs

A
  • produce specialised cells to replace cells that are lost through normal wear and tear, injuries, and diseases
  • MAINTAIN tissue in which they are found
27
Q

Advantages of ASCs

A
  • certain disorders require speciaised cell types and thus ASCs will suffice
  • produce cells of tissues they are derived from; don’t require as much environmental manipulation as ESCs
  • lower risk of rejection as ASCs are derived from the patient; won’t be recognised as foreign by immune system
28
Q

Disadvantages of ASCs

A
  • limited supply of ASCS in each tissue; relatively rare, making them difficult to identify and purify (EXCEPTION: BONE MARROW AND UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD); origin also unknown
  • multipotent; differentiate into limited cell types (cells in tissues they are found in)
  • don’t divide often or easily; challenging to grow in lab
  • cannot divide indefinitely; telomeres, Hayflick limit

Biology (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions