obtaining stem cells

Question 1

iPS cells:

Answer 1

induced pluripotent cells

- when a unipotent stem cell is treated with transcription factors, making it become pluripotent

Question 2

how are iPS cells produced

Answer 2

• modified virus used as a vector
• virus inserts transcription factor genes from pluripotent cell into unipotent cell
• transcription factor expressed

Question 3

how are embryonic stem cells made?

Answer 3

• embryos grown in lab via IVF
• pluripotent stem cells removed after a few days
• embryo destroyed
• pluripotent cells can then differentiate into any body cell

Question 4

where do adult stem cells come from and what is key about them?

Answer 4

• found in bone marrow

- they are ONLY multipotent so less useful for medicine