Stem Cells in Tissue Homeostasis and Regeneration

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to stem cells, their division types, aging, and applications in regenerative medicine.

Asymmetric Division

A type of stem-cell division where only one daughter cell inherits a fate determinant and remains a stem cell, while the other differentiates.

Symmetric Division

A type of stem-cell division where both daughter cells inherit fate determinants and continue to self-renew.

Cell Fate Determinant

A molecule that influences the differentiation pathway of a stem cell.

Self-renewal

The ability of stem cells to divide and produce more stem cells.

Terminal Differentiation

The process by which a stem cell becomes a specialized cell with specific functions.

Stochastic Differentiation

A random process by which daughter stem cells choose whether to differentiate or remain stem cells.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Stem cells that give rise to all blood cells in the body.

Aging and Stem Cells

As stem cells age, they lose their ability to repopulate, indicating replicative cell senescence.

Parabiosis

A surgical technique where two animals are joined to share a circulatory system, used to study stem cell function.

Neoblasts

Undifferentiated dividing cells in planarians that serve as stem cells, capable of giving rise to all cell types.

Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cells

Stem cells generated from somatic cells that can be reprogrammed to an embryonic stem-cell-like state.

Embryonic Stem Cells (ES Cells)

Stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst that can differentiate into any cell type.

Chimeric Animal

An organism composed of cells from two different genetic origins.

Teratoma

A tumor made of multiple tissue types that can arise from improperly controlled differentiation of stem cells.

Organoids

Three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells that mimic the organization of actual organs.

Neurogenesis

The process of generating new neurons, which can occur in the adult brain.

Signaling Pathways

Molecular pathways that mediate the processes of cell growth, differentiation, and regeneration.

Feedback Loop in Stem Cell Maintenance

A mechanism where certain proteins induce their own synthesis to maintain stem cell states.

Chromatin State

The structural organization of DNA that can influence gene expression and stem cell differentiation.

Gene Therapy with iPS Cells

The potential use of iPS cells to repair genetic defects and treat diseases.