Apoptosis and Stem Cells

Question 1

What is Apoptosis

Answer 1

Programmed cell death

Question 2

What is the Mitochondrial Pathway

Answer 2

The Mitochondria detects damage to the internal components of the cell (e.g. DNA) and releases cytochrome C, which activates caspases, which leads to the activation of caspase 3

Question 3

What is the death receptor pathway

Answer 3

Death signaling molecules are released by immune cells, which can be recognized by death receptor proteins on the surface of cells, and when detected activate caspases, which leads to the activation of caspase 3

Question 4

What is the execution stage of apoptosis

Answer 4

As caspase 3 cuts up the cytoskeleton, the cell undergoes cell shrinkage. Blebs start to form on the surface, and then the contents of the cell are contained in apoptotic bodies (formerly blebs). Eventually, a phagocyte engulf and digest the apoptotic bodies by phagocytosis.

Question 5

What is a stem cell

Answer 5

A cell that is undifferentiated or partially differentiated

Question 6

What is a totipotent stem cell (examples)

Answer 6

A stem cell that can differentiate into any cell type (zygote)

Question 7

What is a pluripotent stem cell (example)

Answer 7

A stem cell that can differentiate into multiple cell types (Embryonic stem cells, which can differentiate into most cell types through 3 germ layers (mesoderm, ectoderm, endoderm))

Question 7

What is a multipotent stem cell (example)

Answer 7

A stem cell that can differentiate into a limited number of specialized cell types belonging to a specific tissue or organ. (Ectoderm-skin and nerve system, Mesoderm-Muscle, bone, blood, urogenital, Endoderm-lungs, gastrointestinal)

Question 8

What does the potency of stem cells refer to

Answer 8

The potency of a stem cell refers to its capacity to differentiate into different cell types.