Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

Fundamentals Of Biology > Stem Cells > Flashcards

Stem Cells Flashcards

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

What is a stem cell?

A

A non-specialised cell which can divide and differentiate into a range of others

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

What enables stem cells to differentiate?

A

The express all 23,000 (in humans) genes

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

Stem cell mitosis produces?

A

2 different daughter cells. One identical to the parent cell and one that is a precursor cell that can differentiate further to be come a specialised cell.

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

Which is the process of mitosis called in stem cells?

A

Asymmetrical cell division

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

Three sources of stem cells?

A

Embryonic stem cells produced during IVF and embryonic stem cells produced by therapeutic cloning
Adult stem cells e.g. in bone marrow
Induced pluripotent stem cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How are embryonic stem cells produced by IVF?

A

Sperm cell injected into egg cell
12 hours: the two bundles of genetic material are visible
20 hours: genetic bundles combine
Day 2: egg cell divides into two identical daughter cells and then again to 4
Day 3: eight cell embryo, all cells totipotent
Day 4: mass off identical cells, all still totipotent
Day 5: now called a blastocyst (100 cells) outer layer of cells becomes placenta( differentiation starts to occur), inner cells become foetus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Totipotent meaning?

A

Can differentiate to any type of cell including placental cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Pluripotent meaning?

A

Can differentiate to any type of body cell (not placenta), fewer genes are active compared to totipotent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What do growth factors do?

A

Turn on genes required for the specialised cell and turn all the other genes off

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Advantages of embryonic stem cells produced by IVF?

A

Pluripotent

Plentiful supply

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

Disadvantages of embryonic stem cells produced by IVF?

A

Embryos destroyed- potential life

Rejected by the immune system

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

How are stem cells from therapeutic cloning produced?

A

1) DNA removed from donor egg cell and DNA from the patient cell is put into the egg cell
2) egg cell given small electric shock to make the egg think it has been fertilised by a sperm
3) egg cell divides and differentiates into an early embryo
4) extract stem cells from inner cell mass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Advantages of embryonic stem cells produced by therapeutic cloning?

A

Pluripotent

Genetically identical to patient so no rejection issues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Disadvantages of embryonic stem cells produced by therapeutic cloning?

A

Embryos created with no intention of life

Technique could be used to clone humans (illegal)

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

Cell specific gene expression meaning?

A

Specialised cells only have the genes needed active and the rest are switched off

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Adults stem cells are?

A

Multipotent

17
Q

Multipotent meaning?

A

Can differentiate into a limited number of related cell types

18
Q

Advantages of adult stem cells?

A

Multipotent so can be used for self transplant

Genetic match to patient if from themselves

19
Q

Disadvantages of adult stem cells?

A

Limited supply
Invasive to extract
Only multipotent
Rejection if from donor

20
Q

What are included pluripotent stem cells?

A

Cells treated in a lab to become pluripotent

21
Q

Who discover iPS cells?

A

Yamanaka

22
Q

How are iPS cells created?

A

By reprogramming differentiated adult cells to they become pluripotent again by using 4 regulatory genes to reactivate switched off genes (the chromatin unwinds)

23
Q

Why are the 4 regulatory genes in iPS?

A

Oct3/4
Sox2
Klf4
c-Myc

24
Q

Clinical applications of iPS cells?

A

Transplantation
Disease development
Drug testing
Fertility treatment

25
Q

Advantages of iPS cells?

A

Genetically identical to patient
Pluripotent
No embryo created

26
Q

Disadvantages of iPS cells?

A

Technically challenging
Expensive as new technology
Risk of unexpected changes in gene expression e.g. tumour formation

Fundamentals Of Biology (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions