Stem Cells Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

What is a stem cell?

An undifferentiated cell that can give rise to many more cells of the same type, and from which certain other cell types can arise by differentiation.

What is the name of the process by which a stem cell becomes a specialised cell?

Differentiation.

True or false? Stem cells from adult bone marrow can differentiate into any type of human cell.

False.
Adult bone marrow stem cells form many types of cell including blood cells, whereas embryonic stem cells can be made to differentiate into most types of human cell.

In therapeutic cloning, why are the stem cells not rejected by the patient's body?

The embryo produced has the same genes as the patient, so its stem cells are not rejected and may be used for treatment.

Give one benefit and one risk or objection to using stem cells in medicine.

Benefit: treatment may help conditions such as diabetes and paralysis.
Risk/objection: transfer of viral infection, and some people have ethical or religious objections.

What can stem cells from plant meristems do, and why are they useful?

They can differentiate into any type of plant cell throughout the plant's life, so they can produce clones of plants quickly and economically.
e.g. preserving rare species or producing disease-resistant crops.