Specialised cells and stem cells

Specialised

Designed to carry out a specific role in the body

Differentiation

The process of an unspecialised cell becoming specialised

How are red blood cells specialised?

Their biconcave disk shape allows them to maximise the amount of oxygen they can carry

Stem cells are

Undifferentiated cells

The two main places we find stem cells

Embryos (embryonic) and adult bone marrow

Adult bone marrow stem cells can differentiate into

Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets

How are embryonic stem cells used

They replace faulty cells in sick people- insulin cells for diabetics or nerve cells for those paralysed with back injurys

How are adult bone marrow stem cells used?

healthy blood cells are transferred to replace the faulty ones