Stem Cells

Question 1

[ ] Stem cells can turn into any type of [ ]

Answer 1

Embryonic

Cell

Question 2

What is differentiation?

Answer 2

Process by which a cell changes to become specialised for its job

Question 3

Describe when cells lose the ability to differentiate

Answer 3

Most animal cells lose the ability at an early stage

Lots of plants cells never lose the ability

Question 4

What are stem cells?

Answer 4

Undifferentiated cells. The can develop into different types of cells depending on what instructions they’re given

Question 5

Where are stem cells found?

Answer 5

In early human embryos

Question 6

Describe the stem cells found in adults

Answer 6

Only found in certain places like bone marrow. These aren’t as versatile as embryonic stem cells - hey can’t turn into any cell type - only certain ones

Question 7

Medicine already uses stem cells to cure [ ]

Answer 7

Disease

Question 8

Describe how people with blood diseases can be treated

Answer 8

Bone marrow transplants. Bone marrow contains stem cells that can turn into new blood cells to replace faulty ones

Question 9

How do scientists get stem cells? What are they use for?

Answer 9

They can extract them from early human embryos and grow them.
They can be used to replace faulty cells

Question 10

What condition could beating heart muscle cells cure?

Answer 10

Heart disease

Question 11

What condition could nerve cells cure?

Answer 11

People paralysed by spinal injuries

Question 12

What condition could insulin-producing cells cure?

Answer 12

People with diabetes

Question 13

How do scientists try to get one specific type of cell from stem cells?

Answer 13

Try to control the differentiation of the stem cells by changing the environment they’re growing in

Question 14

Why are some people against stem cell research?

Answer 14

1) They feel that human embryos shouldn’t be used for experiments since each one is a potential human life
2) Scientists should develop/find other sources of stem cells, so they don’t need to use embryos

Question 15

Why do some people disagree with the ethical issues of not researching stem cells?

Answer 15

1) Curing patients who already exist and who are suffering is more important than the rights of embryos
2) Embryos used in research are usually unwanted ones from fertility clinics tat would probably be destroyed if they weren’t used for research