Biology - Stem Cells

What is differentiation?

The process by which a cell changes to become specialised for its job

What are undifferentiated cells called?

Stem cells

Where are stem cells found?

Human embryos, bone marrow and meristems

What types of cells can embryonic cells turn into?

Any

What types of cells can adult stem cells turn into?

Only certain ones such as blood cells

What can stem cells be turned into in the lab?

Clones (genetically identical cells)

Why are the clones made to differentiate?

To be used in medicine or research

What can stem cells from bone marrow be used to cure?

Faulty blood cells

What can embryonic stem cells produce to help cure people?

Insulin producing cells for diabetes, nerve cells for people paralysed by spinal injuries ect.

What happens in therapeutic cloning?

Embryo being made to have the same genetic information as the genes so the cells wont be rejected from the patients body.

What are the risks of stem cells in medicine?

Being contaminated with a virus, which can be passed onto the patient

Why are people against stem cell research?

They are pro-life, and feel as if himan embryos shouldnt be used as each one is a potential human life.

What is the argument for people for stem cells?

The rights of a suffering patient is more important than an embryos rights, and that used embryos are unwanted ones from fertility clinics, and would be destroyed without the research.

What do campaigners for the rights of embryos believe?

Scientists should focus on finding and developing other sources of stem cells, so people can be helped without using embyros.

Is stem cell research allowed in the UK?

Yes, but under strict guidelines. In other countries this is banned

Where are stem cells found in plants?

Meristems (part of the plant where growth occurs)

How long can the cells in the meristem tissue differentiate into any type of plant?

Their entire life

What are meristem stem cells used for?

Producing clones of whole plants quickly and cheaply, and can be used as a way to grow more rare species.

They can also be used to grow crops of identical plants with desired features (such as disease resistance)