Stem Cells Flashcards
Are stem cells differentiated?
No. They undifferentiated and divide to produce more undifferentiated cells. They CAN differentiate into different types of cells depending on the instructions they are given.
What is differentiation?
It is the process where a cell changes in order to become specialised for its job.
Where are stem cells found?
Stem cells are found in human embryos, bone marrow and in plants.
Adult stem cells cannot change because they have already differentiated
.
What is mean by undifferentiated?
This is where cells have already differentiated (changed to become specialised cells) and so can not change but only reproduce/copy/multiply/produce more undifferentiated cells.
Stems cells can be used to…
Cure many disease or illnesses e.g. Nerve stem cells can be used to treat paralysis through spinal injuries.
Stems cells used to treat the ill are found…
In human embryos.
Advantages of embryonic stem cells are…
They can be used to replace faulty cells in the sick, insulin producing cells for diabetics and nerve cells for people paralysed by spinal injuries.
Stems cells in plants are found…
Meristems (parts of the plant where growth occurs).
Difference between human stem cells and plant stem cells…
Human stem cells stop differentiating when the embryo is fully developed where as plant stem cells continue to differentiate throughout its whole life.
