Lect 26 - cellular differentiation, stem cells, & modern medicine

Flashcards for Lecture 26 on Cellular Differentiation, Stem Cells, & Modern Medicine

How do cells change during development?

Cells become more specialized and less flexible.

What is the potency of embryonic stem cells?

They can give rise to all cell types except trophectoderm.

Name the exceptions to the restriction of a cell's fate to only give rise to the same type of cell.

Stem cells and germ cells (egg & sperm)

What happens in response to signals sent to a pluripotent cell when it's time to be determined?

The master regulatory gene (MyoD) is activated.

What are transcription factors?

Proteins that regulate the expression of specific genes during cell determination.

In the case of muscle, what does the MyoD protein (transcription factor) activate?

It activates its own gene (positive feedback) and also activates other transcription factors.

What happens during terminal differentiation?

The cell expresses all necessary specific proteins, no longer divides, and performs its specialized function.

What is genomic equivalence?

They contain a full set of genetic material (excluding gametes) and can theoretically give rise to an entire organism.

Where are Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) harvested from?

Harvested from the inner cell mass of mammalian blastocyst embryos

What can a totipotent fertilised egg do?

Give rise to all cell types.

How are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) made?

By reprogramming adult skin cells.

What does it mean when adult stem cells are 'multipotent'?

Can give rise to a few cell types.

Name examples of renewal tissues.

Blood and skin.

What is the idea behind integrative gene therapy?

To alter the genetic code of an individual’s cells.

What is the idea behind regenerative medicine?

To repair or replace damaged organs or tissues.