Stem Cells Flashcards
What are undifferentiated cells’ (stem cells) job?
They can divide to produce lots more differentiated cells. They can differentiate into different types of cell, depending on what instructions they’re given.
Where are stem cells found?
In early human embryos.
Why do doctors and medical researches care about stem cells?
They have the potential to turn into any kind of cell.
Where is one place an adult stem cells found?
Bone marrow.
What can’t adult stem cells do that embryotic stem cells can?
They can’t turn into any cell type, only certain ones, such as blood cells.
What can be done with stem cells from embryos and bone marrow?
They can be grown in a lab to produce clones (genetically identical cells) and made to differentiate into specialised cels to use in medicine or research.
Give an example of how stem cells can be used for treatment.
Stem cells transferred from the bone marrow of a healthy person can replace faulty blood cells in the patient who receives them.
What could embryonic stem cells be used for?
To replace faulty cells in sick people - you could make insulin-producing cells for people with diabetes, nerve cells for people paralysed by spinal injuries etc.
Name and explain the type of cloning where an embryo could be made to have the same genetic information as the patient.
Therapeutic cloning - the stem cells produced from the cloning would also contain the same genes and so wouldn’t be rejected by the patient’s body.
What is a risk involved in using stem cells in medicine?
Stem cells grown in the lab may become contaminated with a virus which could be passed on to the patient and so make them sicker.
Why are some people against stem cell research?
- They feel that human embryos shouldn’t be used for experiments since each one is a potential human life. 2. They also feel that scientists should concentrate more on finding and developing other sources of stem cells, so people could be helped without having to use embryos.
What do some people think in reply to the opinion of people that are against stem cell research?
- That curing existing patients who are suffering is more important than the rights of embryos. 2. Embryos used for research are usually unwanted ones from fertility clinics which, if they weren’t used for research, would probably just be destroyed.
Is stem cell research banned in some countries?
Yes, and it’s allowed in the UK as long as it follows strict guidelines.
Where are stem cells found in plants?
In the meristems (parts of the plant where growth occurs).
What can you do with stem cells in plants?
- Cells in the meristem tissues can differentiate into any type of plant cell throughout the plant’s entire life. 2. These stem cells can be used to produce clones of whole plants quickly and cheaply. 3. Can be used to grow more plants of rare species (to prevent them from being wiped out). 4. Can also be used to grow crops of identical plants that have desired features for farmers, for example, disease resistance.
