Stem Cells and Tissue Renewal

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to stem cells and tissue renewal from the lecture notes.

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are not terminally differentiated, never lose capacity to divide, and can either remain a stem cell or commit to terminal differentiation.

What characterizes the cells in multicellular organisms?

Cells in multicellular organisms are highly specialized and arranged into tissues, organs, and organ systems.

What is meant by 'transit amplification'?

Transit amplification refers to the process where the first cells produced from stem cell division undergo several rounds of additional division before further differentiation.

What fate can new basal cells in the epidermis assume?

New basal cells can either add to the basal cell population or begin differentiation into other epidermal types.

What is the Immortal DNA Strand Hypothesis?

The Immortal DNA Strand Hypothesis suggests that one of the template strands has a 'tag' and is only delivered to the same daughter cell, defining which daughter cell will remain a stem cell.

Where do hematopoietic stem cells reside?

Hematopoietic stem cells reside in the bone marrow.

What is the process of blood cell production called?

The process of blood cell production is called hemopoiesis.

What potential issue arises when using embryonic stem cells?

If embryonic stem cells are put back at a different time point, they may result in tumor cells due to a lack of proper extracellular signals.

What are some applications of pluripotent stem cells?

Pluripotent stem cells may provide cells for tissue regeneration, such as muscle tissue for muscular dystrophy, nerve tissue for Parkinson’s, and insulin-secreting pancreatic cells.

What happens to adult stem cells when they are grown in the presence of other tissue cells?

Adult stem cells may survive or lose their stem cell properties, and may acquire different properties than their original tissue.