Stem cells

name 3 stem cells

name 3 stem cells

adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, plant stem cells (in meristem tissue)

name the two key features of stem cells

1- they’re able to divide by mitosis to form more cells

2- they’re able to differentiate into specialised cells

how are embryonic stem cells formed?

by zygotes which keep doing mitosis forming an embryo - the cells in an embryo are called embryonic cells

can embryonic stem cells differentiate

yes

can adult stem cells divide by mitosis and differentiate

yes

can only differentiate into différente types of blood cell

what do plant stem cells differentiate into

palisade cells, phloem and xylem cells, root hair cells

how long to plant stem cells persist

the plants whole life

what conditions can be treated by stem cells

diabetes and paralysis

what causes type one diabetes?

damage to the pancreas cells that normally produce insulin

what is sometimes the cause of paralysis

damaged nerve cells

what causes sickle cell anaemia

misshapen red blood cells

how can stem cells be used to help

to replace the faulty cells with new cells

what’s the most common technique for using stem cells?

extracting stem cells from early embryos, grow them in a laboratory, stimulate them to differentiate into the specialised cell needed, give to patient to replace faulty cell

issues with using embryonic cells to replace faulty cells

1- requires embryonic stem cells (limited supply)

2- rejection (immune system may reject stem cells)

Another method of using stem cells is using

adult stem cells

positive of using adult stem cells

taken from the patient so wont cause rejection and no lack of supply

negative of using adult stem cells

can only differentiate into different types of blood cell

risks of using stem cells in medicine

1- virus transmission

2- tumor development

ethical objection to suing embryonic stem cells

the embryos being used have potential for human life