Cellular Differentiation and Stem Cells

What is the unique property of a stem cell?

Stem cells can self-renewal (make identical stem cells) and differentiation (make specialised cells)

Define Cellular Differentiation

All the cells arise from a single fertilised egg, contain the same DNA in their nuclei but become different to each other to form the various structures, tissues and organs and carry out their functions.

Where are stem cells found?

1. Embryonic stem cells

2. Tissue stem cells

3. Induced pluripotent stem cells

Where do we find embryonic stem cells and how can we use them?

Embryonic stem cells are taken from the inner cell mass

Culture in the lab to grow more cells.

The embryonic tissue cells can be made differentiate to specialised cells

Tissue stem cells what they can do

Tissue stem cells can ONLY give rise to the kinds of cell found in the tissue they belong to.

How is Induced pluripotent stem cells made?

Genetic reprogramming =add certain genes to the cell

iPS cell is made which behaves like an embryonic stem cell

Culture iPS cells in the lab

Differentiate to all possible types of specialised cells

Name the 3 types of cloning

Reproductive cloning

Therapeutic cloning

Molecular cloning