Totipotent and Stem Cells Flashcards
What are stem cells?
Cells that can divide by mitosis an unlimited number of times that have the potential to differentiate into any kind of cell.
What is potency?
The ability of stem cells to differentiate into more specialised cells.
Name the 3 types of potency.
Totipotent
Pluripotent
Multipotency
What are totipotent stem cells?
Cells that can divide and differentiate into any type of body cell.
Where do totipotent cells come from?
Embryos
What are zygotes and are they pluri, multi or totipotent?
Zygotes are the cell produced after fertilisation. They are totipotent because the stem cells can become any type of cell.
How do totipotent cells specialise?
They translate only part of their DNA.
Why are there no totipotent cells present in the later stages of life?
Cells lose their ability to differentiate into any cell type.
What does it mean to say that genes are ‘switched off’?
They are not translated because the cell does not require those genes for their function.
What are pluripotent stem cells?
Embryonic stem cells that can differentiate into any type of cell found in the embryo, but not into placenta cells.
What can pluripotent stem cells be used for?
Treating human disorders.
What type of cells are least totipotent?
Adult stem cells, that are created once the fetus has formed.
Name 4 places that stem cells can come from, listing from most to least totipotent.
Most - Embryo
Umbilical cord blood.
Placental stem cells
Least - Adult stem cells.
In adults, what can induced pluripotent stem cells be produced from?
Any body cell that is not a gamete.
Where do adult stem cells come from?
Bone marrow