Bio: Stem Cells & Niches

Fertilization

fusing of sperm and egg to form zygote

Cell specialisation

developing into different sizes and create different proteins to carry metabolic reactions.

Differentiation

development of specialised cells when different genes are expressed

Morphogens

signalling chemicals that effect gene expression based on the amount present

Retinoic acid

key morphogen that affects cell growth

Stem Cell Niches

areas where stem cells divide and can be dormant

Bone Marrow

contain hematopoietic stem cells which can become different blood cells

Hair follicle

Epithelial skin cells originate here

Totipotent

can become any cell including placenta

Pluripotent

can become any cell except placenta

Multipotent

can become few types of cell

Obligate Anerobes

organisms that must live in the absence of oxygen

Obligate aerobes

require oxygen

Facultative anaerobes

can live with or without oxygen

Winogradsky column

The Winogradsky column is a simple device for culturing a large diversity of microorganisms. The device is a column of pond mud and water mixed with a carbon source and a sulfur source