Stem cells - Cell Biology

Question 1

What are stem cells?

Answer 1

They are unspecialised cells that can become specialised

Question 2

What are embryonic stem cells?

Answer 2

Stem cells from the embryo - they can turn into a variety of cells

Life started with a small sac of stem cells that were soon specialised

Question 3

What are adult stem cells?

Answer 3

Stem cells from the bone marrow - they have the ability to turn into some types of cells.

Question 4

What is differentiation?

Answer 4

When an unspecialised stem cell turns into another type of cell and becomes specialised

Question 5

What is the difference between embryonic and adult stem cells?

Answer 5

Embryonic stem cells are from a 4/5 embryo and can turn into any type of cell. Adult stem cells are derived from the bone marrow and can only turn into blood cells (red,white and platelets).

Question 6

Why are stem cells useful in plants?

Answer 6

They can clone plants and thus prevent extinction

Question 7

Give an example of a condition that stem cells can treat and how.

Answer 7

Diabetes - by trying to grow cells that are sensitive to blood sugar levels and produce insulin

Other e.g could be paralysis, organ and tissue regeneration

Question 8

Where can one get embryonic stem cells?

Answer 8

IVF centres and abortion clinics

Question 9

What are some disadvantages of embryonic stem cells?

Answer 9

• Some people might find it immoral as they see it as killing the baby

Question 10

What are some disadvantages of adult stem cells?

Answer 10

• Can only turn into blood cells
• Painful to extract stem cells from bone marrow

Question 11

What are disadvantages of stem cells in general?

Answer 11

Transplantations could transfer viral infections
Stem cells could get rejected by the body without therapeutic cloning
Stem cells can cause tumours or cancers because they divide so quickly by mitosis

Question 12

What is therapeutic cloning?

Answer 12

Stem cells made with the same genetic information as the patient so it’s not rejected by the body

Question 13

Disadvantage of stem cells grown in labs

Answer 13

• They could get contaminated with viruses and cause further sickness to the patient

Question 14

How are animal stem cells different from plant stem cells?

Answer 14

• Plant cells are found in meristem
• Plant stem cells can be used at any point in their life
• Animal cells are mainly used for replacement and repair