Stem cells

Question 1

What is a stem cell?

Answer 1

An undifferentiated cell that can continually divide and become specialised

Question 2

What is differentiation?

Answer 2

The process by which stem cells become specialised

Question 3

What is cell potency?

Answer 3

The cell’s ability to differentiate into other cells. The more cells it can differentiate into, the greater the potency

Question 4

What is an iPS?

Answer 4

An induced pluripotent stem cell.

Question 5

How is an iPS made?

Answer 5

A multi/unipotent cell is taken from an adult cell and manipulated using transcriptional factors

Question 6

Positives of iPS?

Answer 6

All genes are turned on.
They divide indefinitely.
They don’t destroy embryos

Question 7

Order of potency?

Answer 7

Totipotency.
Pluripotency.
Multipotency.
Unipotency

Question 8

Totipotent characteristics?

Answer 8

Produce any type of cell.
Only in a zygote.
Only translate one part of DNA

Question 9

Pluripotent characteristics?

Answer 9

Produce almost any type of cell.
Taken from a blastocyst.
Issues with ethics.
Continual division can cause tumours.

Question 10

Multipotent characteristics?

Answer 10

Differentiate into a limited number of cells.
Found in the umbilical cord, placenta and bone marrow.

Question 11

Unipotent characteristics?

Answer 11

Only differentiate into one type of cell.
Seen in adult organ tissue, e.g. hepatic, nerve, cardiac.