Cell Biology Lecture: Stem Cells

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from a lecture on stem cells in Cell Biology.

Stem Cell

A cell that can renew itself and differentiate into specialized cell types.

Self Renewal

The process by which a stem cell divides to produce another stem cell.

Differentiation

The process by which a stem cell becomes a specialized cell type.

Pluripotent

A type of stem cell that can differentiate into nearly any cell type derived from the three germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm.

Embryonic Stem Cells

Stem cells isolated from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst; they are pluripotent.

Multipotent Stem Cells

Adult stem cells that can differentiate into a limited number of cell types related to their tissue of origin.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)

Adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state.

Totipotent

Cells that can develop into any cell type, including placental tissue; the only example is a zygote.

Multipotency

The ability of stem cells to develop into multiple, but limited, cell types.

Dickey-Wicker Amendment

A law that prohibits federal funding of research that harms human embryos.

JAK-STAT3 pathway

A signaling pathway that can prevent stem cell differentiation by activating transcription factors.

Transcription Factors

Proteins that help regulate the expression of genes, critical for maintaining stem cell pluripotency.

Embryoid Bodies

3D aggregates of stem cells that can develop into various cell types under certain conditions.

Bone Morphogenic Proteins (BMPs)

Proteins that play a significant role in bone formation and can influence stem cell differentiation.

Regenerative Medicine

A field of medicine that aims to repair, replace, or regenerate damaged tissues and organs.

Clonogenicity

The ability of stem cells to give rise to a colony of identical cells upon division.

Plasticity

The ability of adult stem cells to differentiate into cell types other than the ones they originated from.

Regenerative Advanced Medicinal Therapy

A term used in legislation to refer to therapies involving stem cells without explicitly naming them.

Somatic Stem Cells

Adult stem cells that are found in various tissues throughout the body.

Transplantation

The process of transferring stem cells to replace damaged tissue.

Ethical Debate in Stem Cell Research

Contentious discussions regarding the moral and ethical implications of using embryonic versus adult stem cells.

Epithelial Basal Cells

Adult stem cells in the basal layer of the skin that maintain skin integrity and can differentiate into various epithelial cell types.

Cancer Stem Cells

Stem-like cells within tumors that can self-renew and contribute to cancer progression.