Cell Organization, Cell Differentiation, and Stem Cells

Flashcards about cell organization, cell differentiation, and stem cells, based on lecture notes.

Cell Differentiation

The process by which unspecialized cells become specialized to carry out distinct functions.

Terminally Differentiated Cells

Cells that are unable to divide; examples include neurons, adipocytes, cardiomyocytes, skeletal muscle cells, and skin cells.

Stem Cell

A cell that has the ability to continuously divide and differentiate into various other kinds of cells.

Self-Renewal (in Stem Cells)

The ability of a stem cell to regenerate into only the specific tissue from which it is isolated through proliferation and renewal.

Totipotent Stem Cells

Capable of giving rise to any and all cell types (germ cells, somatic cells, placenta) and can form a whole organism; morula is an example.

Pluripotent Stem Cells

Capable of giving rise to almost all cell types (somatic cells, germ cells) but cannot develop into an organism; inner cell mass of blastocyst is an example.

Multipotent Stem Cells

Can differentiate into multiple specialized cells of a closely related family of cells (ex: hematopoietic stem cells)

Oligopotent stem cells

The ability to differentiate into a few cells - Ex: lymphoid progenitor

Unipotent Stem Cells

Cells that only produce one cell type - Ex: muscle stem cells

Asymmetric Cell Division

A cell division that gives rise to two sister cells that have different fates, recognizable by differences in size, morphology, gene expression pattern, or the number of subsequent cell divisions.

Stem Cell Niche

The local microenvironment where adult stem cells reside in the organism, influencing stem cell number, cell cycle progression, self-renewal, and differentiation.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC)

Stem cells created directly from a patient's cells, capable of being maintained indefinitely in the lab and possessing similar properties to embryonic stem cells.

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

An alternate source of embryonic stem cells.

Morula

Period of embryo from 3-4 days.