UNIT 1: Key area 4 - cellular differentiation

Question 1

what is differentiation ?

Answer 1

cell expresses certain genes to make proteins for specific cells

allows cell to carry out specialised functions

Question 2

what do genes have potential to do?

Answer 2

be switched on and off

Question 3

depending on what ? will mean genes will stay on or off ?

Answer 3

cell function

Question 4

what are meristems ?

Answer 4

undifferentiated (unspecialised) plant cells

Question 5

where are meristems found ?

Answer 5

roots and shoots

Question 6

what can meristem cells do ?

Answer 6

divide to make new meristem cells
(mitosis)

Question 7

what is a human blastocyst?

Answer 7

ball of embryonic stem cells

Question 8

all genes in embryonic cells can be switched on why ?

Answer 8

so they can becoem any type of cell
as they are pluripotent

Question 9

wher are adult tissue stem cells found ?

Answer 9

skin and red bone marrow

Question 10

what are tissue stem cells ?
multi potent or pluripotent ?

Answer 10

multi potent

Question 11

what are tissue stem cells involved in ?

Answer 11

growth, repair and renewal of cells

Question 12

what can stem cells be used for ?

Answer 12

to study how diseases develop
drug testing

Question 13

what are therapeutic stem cells use to do ?

Answer 13

repair damaged organs or tissues

Question 14

what else can stem cells be used for ?

Answer 14

corneal repair and regeneration of damaged skin

Question 15

ethical issues of stem cells ?

Answer 15

destroys embryos- some say it’s killing a life