UNIT1. division and differentiation in human cells

Question 1

what is a somatic cell?

Answer 1

any cell in the body other than the cells involved in reproduction, they can divide by mitosis

Question 2

what is a germline cell?

Answer 2

gametes (sperm and ova) and the stem cells that divide to form gametes, can divide by mitosis - diploid and meiosis - haploid

Question 3

describe the difference between diploid and haploid.

Answer 3

diploid cells have 23 PAIRS od homologous chromosomes and haploid cells have 23 SINGLE chromosomes

Question 4

describe fertilisation

Answer 4

fertilisation is the process of the nuclei of the male and femal gametes are fused together in order to create a zygote

Question 5

what happens during meiosis

Answer 5

copies of the genetic information are made, the cell divides twice to form four gametes and all gametes are genetically different from each other

Question 6

what does the term differentiation mean?

Answer 6

when cells express specific genes that characterise a certain type of cell we say that a cell has become differentiated

Question 7

why are differentiated cells important?

Answer 7

differentiated cells are important in a multicellular organism because they are able to perform a specialised function in the body

Question 8

what are stem cells?

Answer 8

stem cells are cells in animals that can continuously undergo cell division.

Question 9

what are the two types of stem cells?

Answer 9

embryonic and tissue

Question 10

what does the term pluripotent mean?

Answer 10

all genes can be expresses so they can give rise to all types of cells

Question 11

what does the term multipotent mean

Answer 11

that the cells can differentiate into any of the types of cell of the same tissue types