stem cells and embryology

Question 1

where are totipotent stem cells found

Answer 1

zygotes

Question 2

where are pluripotent stem cells found

Answer 2

-embryonic development cells
-primordial germ cells

Question 3

where are multi potent stem cells found

Answer 3

gastrula
adult stem cells

Question 4

where are unipotent stem cells found

Answer 4

somatic cells

Question 5

what is a somatic cell

Answer 5

any cell that isn’t a gamete

Question 6

what are lineage specific genes

Question 7

does ‘open chromatin’ increase or decrease with specialisation

Answer 7

decreases

Question 8

does DNA methylation increase or decrease with specialisation

Answer 8

increases

Question 9

what 2 ways can stem cells divide

Answer 9

asymmetric and symmetric

Question 10

what is asymmetric division

Answer 10

where a stem cell divides into one stem cell cell and one differentiation

Question 11

what is symmetric division

Answer 11

when the stem cell divides into either 2 stem cells or 2 differentiations

Question 12

what are the two types of naturally occurring stem cells

Answer 12

-embryonic stem cells
- tissue specific adult stem cells

Question 13

what type of stem cell can be obtained from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst

Answer 13

pluripotent

Question 14

what type of stem cell can be obtained from zygotes to 8-cell stage

Answer 14

totipotent

Question 15

what is a progenitor cell

Answer 15

Progenitor Cells are more committed than stem cells and they divide rapidly and differentiate into
specific cells.

Question 16

what are the 3 main types of human stem cells

Answer 16

• embryonic stem cells
• induced pluripotent stem cells
• adult stem cells

Question 17

what are the features of adult stem cells

Answer 17

• limited cell populations
• known as somatic/tissue stem cells
• replace lost cells due to injury or cell turnover to maintain tissue homeostasis
• e.g blood cells

Question 18

what is an example of a natural use of adult stem cells

Answer 18

the renewal of small intestine lining due to stem cells located in intestinal crypts

Question 19

features of embryonic stem cells

Answer 19

Derived from the Inner cell mass of the blastocyst (pre plantation phase human embryo)
- Results in destruction of the embryo

Question 20

what are induced pluripotent stem cells

Answer 20

adult differentiated stem cells are reprogrammed back to embryonic state using transcription factors

Question 21

what are FACS

Answer 21

fluorescence - activated cell sorting

Question 22

what are MACS

Answer 22

magnetic activated cell sorting

Question 23

what can stem cells be used for

Answer 23

-transplantation and regeneration
- pharmacological testing
- anti-ageing therapies
- reproductive cloning

Question 24

what 3 techniques can be used with stem cells

Answer 24

gene cloning ( creation of genes/DNA segments)
- therapeutic cloning (creation of tissues/organs)
- reproductive cloning (creation of the entire mammal)

Question 25

what is an example of therapeutic cloning

Answer 25

stem cell injections for tissue repair, such as collagen in joints

Question 26

what is the transplant of haematopoetic stem cells used for

Answer 26

to help ensure transplant aren’t rejected

Question 27

what is somatic cell nuclear transfer

Answer 27

• the nucleus is removed from an egg cell
• and a somatic cell is inserted into the egg cell
• which is then artificially activated to divide and produce an embryo