Unit 1: Human Cells - Key Area 1 - Division and differentiation in human cells Flashcards

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1
Q

What are somatic cells?

A

Any cell in the body other than cells involved in reproduction.

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2
Q

How do somatic cells divide and why is this important?

A

Somatic cells divide by mitosis. This is so that the daughter cells obtain all of the genetic info they need to function and no genetic info is lost. To maintain the diploid chromosome number.

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3
Q

Why do somatic cells divide?

A

Somatic cells divide for growth and repair to maintain the total number of cells.

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4
Q

What are examples of somatic cells?

A

All body cells of an organism – apart from the sperm and egg cells, like red blood cells, muscle cells, and hair cells, etc.

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5
Q

What are germline cells?

A

Haploid gametes (Sperm and Ova)

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6
Q

How do germline cells divide to produce more germline cells?

A

By mitosis.

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7
Q

How does a germline cell divide to produce gamete cells?

A

By meiosis.

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8
Q

What is the main difference between Meiosis and Mitosis?

A

In Meiosis the daughter cells undergo 2 rounds of cell division to produce 4 genetically different haploid daughter cells. But in Mitosis the daughter cell only undergoes 1 round of cell division to produce 2 genetically identical diploid cells.

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9
Q

What are stem cells?

A

Unspecialised somatic cells which can divide to make copies of themselves and/or differentiate into specialised cells.

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10
Q

What is Cellular Differentiation?

A

It is the process by which a cell expresses certain genes to produce proteins characteristic for that type of cell. This allows a cell to carry out specialised functions.

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11
Q

Are adult tissue stem cells capable of dividing into a wide range of differentiated cells?

A

No they are only capable of dividing into a limited range of differentiated cells.

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12
Q

Are embryonic stem cells capable of dividing into a wide range of differentiated cells?

A

Yes as they are pluripotent.

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13
Q

Why does adult tissue need stem cells?

A

To maintain cell numbers, by repairing/replacing damaged cells within tissues or organs

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14
Q

What are adult tissue stem cells involved in and why is this?

A

Adult tissue stem cells are involved in the growth, repair, and renewal of the cells found in that tissue. They are multipotent.

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15
Q

Why are embryonic stem cells capable of differentiating into any specialised cell type?

A

They are pluripotent.

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16
Q

Why are cells in the very early embryo pluripotent?

A

Cells in the very early embryo can differentiate into all the cell types that make up the individual and so are pluripotent.

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17
Q

What do differentiated cells only have a few of and what does this mean for the cell?

A

Differentiated cells only have a few genes switched on. So those that are not required for the function of that specific cell are switched off, meaning only the proteins that the cell requires to function are produced.

18
Q

What can stem cell research be used for?

A
  • Providing info on how cell processes work.
  • Drug testing
  • Researching how diseases work
19
Q

What do the therapeutic uses of stem cells include?

A

Therapeutic uses involve the repair of damaged or diseased organs or tissues. For example, using them as a skin graft for burn victims.

20
Q

In a developing embryo, how are tissues such as muscle and nerve produced?

A

By somatic cells dividing by mitosis

21
Q

After meiosis are the daughter cells genetically different?

A

Yes

22
Q

After mitosis are the daughter cells genetically different?

A

No the are identical

23
Q

Are germline cells diploid or haploid?

A

Diploid

24
Q

Describe how cancer can develop and spread through the body?

A

Cancer cells divide excessively because they do not respond to regulatory signals and therefore the cells don’t die. This results in a mass of abnormal cells called a tumour.

25
Q

Describe how division by meiosis produces haploid gametes?

A

The nucleus of a germline stem cell can divide by meiosis. It undergoes two divisions, firstly separating homologous chromosomes and secondly separating chromatids. The Haploid gametes (the sperm and ova) contain 23 single chromosomes.

26
Q

How many chromosomes do diploid cells have?

A

46

27
Q

How many chromosomes do haploid cells have?

A

23

28
Q

How many pairs of chromosome do germline cells have?

A

23 pairs of homologous chromosomes.

29
Q

How many pairs of homologous chromosomes do diploid cells have?

A

Diploid cells have 23 pairs of homologous chromosomes.

30
Q

What are examples of gametes?

A

Sperm and egg.

31
Q

What is an example of a multipotent cell?

A

Adult tissue stem cells

32
Q

What is an example of a pluripotent cell?

A

Embryonic stem cells

33
Q

What is each of the 4 parts of the ‘ X ‘ shape of the chromosome called?

A

The chromatids

34
Q

What is the meaning of multipotent?

A

Cells that have the ability/are capable giving rise to a limited number of cell types/fates.

35
Q

What is the meaning of pluripotent?

A

Cells that have the ability/are capable of developing into ALL types of cells.

36
Q

What is the process of division called that germline cells undergo to produce haploid gametes?

A

Meiosis

37
Q

What is the very centre of the chromosome called?

A

The centrome

38
Q

Where are adult tissue stem cells found?

A

Adult tissue stem cells are found in the tissue of adults and children, including the brain skin and bone marrow.

39
Q

Where are embryonic stem cells found?

A

In the inner cell mass of early embryos around 4-5 days.

40
Q

Where is the location of the tissue stem cells which develop into blood cells?

A

Bone marrow

41
Q

Why are adult tissue stem cells multipotent?

A

Adult tissue stem cells are multipotent because they can only differentiate into cells found in a particular tissue type. For example, blood stem cells located in bone marrow can give rise to red blood cells, platelets, phagocytes, and lymphocytes.

42
Q

Why is the maintenance of the chromosome complement important?

A

To ensure that no genetic information is lost (or duplicated) and that each daughter cell contains all of the correct characteristics.