Topic 1 - Differentiation & Stem Cells Flashcards
Somatic Cells
Non-sex cells
How do somatic cells divide?
Mitosis
What does dividing somatic cells form?
More somatic cells
Differentiation
The process which results in cells becoming specialised
Specialised
They have their own specific structure and function
What happens once a cell becomes differentiated?
It only expresses the genes that produce characteristics for that type of cell
What type of body tissue types do somatic cells differentiate to form?
Epithelial and Connective
Epithelial Tissue
The cells that cover the body surface and line body cavities (e.g bladder, windpipe etc)
Connective Tissue
This is bone blood cartilage, muscle and nerve cells
The two types of stem cells
Embryonic and Tissue (adult) stem cells
Stem Cells
Unspecialised somatic cells that can divide to make copies of themselves and/or differentiate into specialised cells
Tissue (adult) stem cells are multipotent or pluripotent?
Multipotent
What are tissue (adult) stem cells involved in?
Growth, Repair and renewal of the cells found in that tissue
Multipotent
They can make all of the cell types found in a particular tissue type
What does tissue (adult) stem cells in bone marrow develop into?
Red blood cells, platelets and various types of phagocytes and lymphocytes
