Stem Cells

Question 1

What is a stem cell

Answer 1

A primitive cell

Can self-renew or give rise to a specialized cell type

Gives rise to one daughter and one stem cell

Question 2

Basic characteristics of stem cells

Answer 2

Not terminally differentiated
Can divide without limit
Undergo slow division

Question 3

Adult stem cells are what

Answer 3

Tissue specific

Question 4

Totipotency

Answer 4

Ability to give rise to all cells of an organism, including embryonic and extraembryonic tissues

Example:zygote

Question 5

Pluripotency

Answer 5

Ability to give rise to all cells of the embryo and subsequently adult tissues

Example: embryonic stem cells

Question 6

Multipotency

Answer 6

Ability to give rise to different types of a given lineage

Example: adult stem cells

Question 7

Pluripotent cells can be isolated form where

Answer 7

The intercell mass of a developing embryo

Question 8

Founder stem cells

Define and fucntion

Answer 8

Cells that will clonally divide and give rise to a large number of cells

Each tissue has a fixed number of founder cells
Programed to have fixed number of divisions

Define the size of large final structures

Question 9

Transit amplifying cells

Answer 9

Divide frequently
NOT stem cells

Leave the basal layer and incorporate into the layers above

Question 10

What is needed to maintain stem cells

Answer 10

Steady pool, 50% of daughter cells must remain as stem cells

Question 11

Division asymmetry

Answer 11

Asymmetric division may create two cells, one with stem cell characteristics, the other with the ability to differentiate

Question 12

Environmental asymmetry

Answer 12

Division makes two identical cells but the environment may influence or alter one cell

Question 13

What makes the new daughter cell know if it is a stem cell or a differentiated cell

Answer 13

PTM methylation

Question 14

Immortal strand hypothesis

Answer 14

All stem cells will have the same DNA from generation to generation

This makes sure that there are no changes in stem cell DNA

Question 15

Embryonic stem cell

Define and function

Answer 15

Derived from blastocyst stage of embryo

Capable of proliferating indefinitely in culture with an unrestricted development potential

Can differentiate into different cell types

Can become a tumor after injection

Question 16

Tertomas

Answer 16

Tumor from ES cells

Can differentiate into a wide range of tissues

Question 17

ES cell plus what gives you adipocyte

Answer 17

Retinoic acid, then insulin and thyroid hormones

Question 18

ES cell plus what gives you neuron

Answer 18

Retinoic acid

Question 19

What 4 transcription factors are only found in ES cells

Answer 19

1. Nanog
2. Oct4
3. Sox2
4. FoxD3

Question 20

Growth factors only found in pluripotent ES cells

Answer 20

Cripto and GDF-3

Question 21

Per the experts, is there evidence that supports the theory that adult stem cells can replace embryonic stem cells

Answer 21

NO

Question 22

hematopoietic stem cells make what

Answer 22

Blood components

Question 23

Where are HSCs found

Answer 23

Cord blood, bone marrow and peripheral blood

Question 24

Mesenchymal stem cells can make what

Answer 24

Connective tissues

Question 25

Where are MSCs found

Answer 25

Wharton’s jelly, bone marrow, adipose tissue

Question 26

What is a serious problem with stem cells

Answer 26

Immune rejection

Question 27

Somatic cell nuclear transfer

Answer 27

Nucleus taken from somatic cell of patient and injected into oocyte of a donor replacing the oocyte nucleus

Question 28

What are the key determinants fo ES cell characteristics

Answer 28

The 4 gene regulatory proteins

1. Oct3
2. Sox2
3. Myc
4. KIf4