Stem Cells Flashcards
what is an embryonic stem cell?
can become any type of cell and found in embryos
what is a stem cell?
an undifferentiated cell that can produce lots more undifferentiated cells
why are stem cells exciting to doctors?
potential to turn into any kind of cell
where can adult stem cells be found?
bone marrow , can’t turn into any cell type like embryonic cells
where can embryonic stem cells and bone marrow ones be grown?
in a lab to produce clones to differentiate them to use as research
why does medicine use stem cells?
to cure diseases by replacing failing cells with a stem cell with the function they need
what is therapeutic cloning?
an embryonic stem cell is cloned to have the same genetic information as the patient so they wouldn’t get rejected
what is a risk of stem cells?
testing on them in a lab can give them a virus causing the person to get even sicker if it contains a virus
why are people against stem cell research?
shouldn’t be testing on as embryos are potential life, scientists should concentrate on finding other stem cells, banned in some countries
why are people for stem cell research?
curing patients who already exist is more important that the right of embryos, embryos used are normally unwanted ones from fertility clinics anyways that would have been destroyed
where are stem cells found in plants?
in the meristems of plants where growth occurs
what can plant stem cells be used for ?
growing plants or rare species or making clones of whole plants
