1.4 Cellular Differentiation

Question 1

What are meristems?

Answer 1

Meristems are regions of unspecialised cells in plants that can divide and/or differentiate

Question 2

What are stem cells?

Answer 2

Stem cells are unspecialised cells in animals that can divide and/or differentiate

Question 3

How are embryonic stem cells pluripotent?

Answer 3

All genes in embryonic stem cells can be switched on so these cells can differentiate into any type of cell.

Question 4

How are tissue cells multipotent?

Answer 4

Tissue stem cells can differentiate into all of the types of cell found in a particular tissue type

Question 5

What is an example of a multipotent cell?

Answer 5

Blood stem cells located in bone marrow can give rise to all types of blood cell

Question 6

What are the therapeutic uses of stem cells?

Answer 6

Corneal repair, regeneration of damaged skin

Question 7

How can embryonic stem cells be used to repair damaged organs or tissues?

Answer 7

Stem cells from the embryo can self renew under the right conditions in the lab

Question 8

What does stem cell research provide information on?

Answer 8

Stem cell research provides information on how cell processes such as cell growth, differentiation and gene regulation work

Question 9

What is an ethical issue surrounding the use of stem cells?

Answer 9

Use of embryonic stem cells involves destruction of embryos