biology paper 1 GCSE mitosis and stem cells Flashcards
What is a function of mitosis?
essential growth and development of multicellular organisms.
What is a 2nd function of mitosis?
Takes place when an organism repairs itself.
What is a 3rd function of mitosis?
Happens during asexual production.
What are embryonic stem cells?
Cells that differentiate into any type of body cell.
found in early stage of an embryo.
What is differentiation?
Process by which cells change to become specialised for it’s job.
What are stem cells?
Undifferentiated cell that can produce more undifferentiated cells or they can differentiate into different cells.
Where can stem cells be found in a adult organism?
the bone marrow
What does the stem cell in bone marrow differentiate to form?
differentiate to form blood cells.
eg. platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells.
Can adult stem cells differentiate into any other type of cell?
no only blood cells.
How do you treat cancer of the bone marrow?
Patient’s existing bone marrow is destroyed by radiation.
The patient receives bone marrow from a donor
the stem cells in bone marrow will divide and form new bone marrow.
They differentiate and from blood cells also.
What are the problems of using bone marrow for treating cancer?
Donor has to be compatible with the patient. white blood cells can attack patients body from the donated bone marrow.
risk of virus being passed from donor to patient.
What is therapeutic cloning?
Embryo is produced with same gene as patient.
Stem cells from embryo can be transplanted in patient without being rejected by the patients immune system.
They stem cells can differentiate to replace cells which have stopped working.
What sicknesses can therapeutic cloning be used for?
Diabetes to make insulin producing cells.
paralysis to make nerve cells
What objections do some people have to therapeutic cloning?
Ethical or religious objections to the procedure.
Where are stem cells found in plants?
In the meristems tissue
