Stem cells

Question 1

What are stem cells?

Answer 1

Undifferentiated cells that can divide to produce lots more undifferentiated cells that can differentiate into different types of cell depending on the instructions they are given.

Question 2

Where are stem cells found?

Answer 2

Embryos

Adult stem cells - bone marrow

Question 3

How are adult stem cells different to embryonic stem cells?

Answer 3

Adult stem cells can only differentiate into a specific type of cell eg. blood cells

Question 4

How are stem cells used in the lab?

Answer 4

Cloned and made to differentiate into specialised cells to use in medicine or research

Question 5

How may stem cells be able to cure disease?

Answer 5

Less chance of rejection - same genetic information as patient
Replace faulty cells eg. blood in sickle cell anaemia patients or insulin producing cells in diabetics or nerve cells in paralysed patients

Question 6

What are the risks of using stem cells in medicine?

Answer 6

Contamination - viruses could be passed on to patient

Question 7

Why are some people against stem cell research?

Answer 7

Human embryos - potential human life

Question 8

How can stem cells be used to preserve rare plant species?

Answer 8

In plants, stem cells are found in the meristems
These stem cells can be used to produce clones of whole plants quickly and cheaply
Can grow lots of plants with desirable characteristics eg. disease resistance