Stem Cells & Regeneration Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards related to Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration

Stem Cell

A cell type that can differentiate into other cell types besides itself.

Asymmetrical Cell Division (in stem cells)

Cell division where one stem cell and one differentiated cell are produced.

Cell Differentiation

Signaling and differentiation factors in the cell environment that influence cell specialization.

Totipotent Stem Cell

Can become any cell type in the body (e.g., zygote, early embryo).

Pluripotent Stem Cell

Can become almost all cell types (e.g., embryonic stem cells).

Multipotent Stem Cell

Can become multiple cell types within a lineage (e.g., hematopoietic stem cells).

Unipotent Stem Cell

Can become only one type of cell (e.g., muscle stem cells).

Meselson and Stahl Experiment

Grew bacteria with 'heavy' nucleotides, then switched to 'light' nucleotides. DNA was mostly light after two generations, indicating semiconservative replication.

Perfusion Bioreactor

A complex 3D model in cell culture.

Decellularization Matrix

A technique related to extracellular matrix manipulation.

RNA interference of B-catenin

Causes inappropriate regeneration of a head instead of a tail at posterior amputation.

Regeneration

The process of returning a site to its original state.

Platelets

The cells that act first during the healing process.

p16

A marker of senescence.

Proliferation (in healing)

The stage of healing during which granulation tissue formation occurs.

Replicative Senescence

Due to a limited number of cell divisions.

Cell Microenvironment

The composition of the environment around the cell, including nutrients, signaling molecules, and extracellular matrix.

CD (Cluster Differentiation)

Used to identify and isolate specific cell types, such as stem cells, for targeted transplantation.

Quiescent Cell

Dormant and not dividing (e.g., stem cells in the bone marrow).

Senescent Cell

Metabolically active but no longer divide.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy administered before for surgery to reduce tumor size.

Natural Killer T-Lymphocytes

Cells involved in recognizing abnormal (transplanted, infected, or malignant) cells that do not carry the appropriate HLA proteins.

Culturing on Feeder Cells

Method to prevent embryonic stem cells from spontaneously differentiating in culture via culturing on mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Blastema

Structure that forms in planaria after amputation to regenerate the missing tissue.

Cardiomyocytes

Cells that proliferate to regenerate cardiac tissue in zebrafish.

Telomere Shortening

Phenomenon that limits the number of cell divisions before entering replicative senescence.

Immunosurgery

A technique used to isolate the inner cell mass from the blastocyst.

Paracrine Signaling

Signaling molecules secreted by mesenchymal stem cells acting on neighboring cells.