Stem Cells & Medicine

Question 1

What can stem cells differentiate to form?

Answer 1

any type of specialied cell

they can be used to replace faulty or damaged cells

Question 2

What is bone marrow transplant in stem cells?

Answer 2

contains multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into RBC’s and WBC’s

if someone has a faulty bone marrow e.g. leukemia, could replace bone marrow through donor to form new healthy cells

Question 3

What is grow new organs with ste m cells?

Answer 3

no donors needed

ips cells (induced pluripotent stem cells)

ips organs have the same antigens -> no organ rejection

Question 4

What are the advantages of stem cells in medicine?

Answer 4

save lives
improving quality of life
prevent suffering

Question 5

What are the ethical issues of stem cells?

Answer 5

stem cells are taken from IVF embryos which could develop into a fetus if implanted

some people believe from fertilisation a zygote has the right to life

use unfertilised eggs that are triggered to divide

adult stem cells are not pluripotent

ips cells could be the future solution