stem cells Flashcards
(17 cards)
What are Stem Cells?
A cell that has the ability to continuously divide and differentiate into other cell/tissue types. Stem cells can replace cells that have died and replace defective cells/tissues in patients with certain diseases or defects.
What is the potency of stem cells?
Stem cells are undifferentiated but have the potential to give rise to differentiated cells with a specialized function.
What is self-renewal in stem cells?
The capacity to replicate themselves and produce both a copy and a differentiated cell.
What are some applications of stem cells?
Tissue repair, cancers, autoimmune diseases, and spray-on skin.
What are the stages of embryo development?
- Zygote: First cell after fertilization. 2. Morula: 3-4 days old with 16 cells. 3. Blastocyst: Inner cell mass and trophoblast. 4. Gastrula: Forms three germ layers. 5. Foetus: Most organs formed by 9 weeks.
What is potency in stem cells?
A measure of the capacity to differentiate into different cell types. The more cell types a stem cell can differentiate into, the greater its potency.
What are the types of stem cells based on potency?
- Totipotent: Can differentiate into any cell type. 2. Pluripotent: Can differentiate into multiple cell types. 3. Multipotent: Can differentiate into a limited number of specialized cell types.
What are embryonic stem cells?
Stem cells harvested from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst seven to ten days after fertilization.
What are adult stem cells?
Stem cells present in adults responsible for the maintenance and repair of tissues, but cannot replicate indefinitely.
What are induced pluripotent stem cells?
Specialized cells that can be reprogrammed back into pluripotent stem cells.
Where are adult stem cells found?
In many organs and tissues including brain, bone marrow, and skin.
What tests are used for identifying adult stem cells?
- Label cells in living tissue with molecular markers. 2. Transplant labeled cells back into another animal to determine if they repopulate their tissue of origin.
What are the differences between embryonic and adult stem cells?
Embryonic stem cells have near indefinite self-renewal and can differentiate into all cell types, while adult stem cells have limited self-renewal and differentiate into restricted cell types.
What are the pros and cons of embryonic stem cells?
Pros: Cell lines last indefinitely. Cons: Ethical issues regarding when life begins.
What are the pros and cons of adult stem cells?
Pros: No ethical issues. Cons: Cell lines do not last and are hard to locate.
Why is there controversy over stem cells?
Embryonic stem cells are derived from extra blastocysts that would otherwise be discarded, and extracting them destroys the developing embryo.
How can scientists ensure ethical conduct in stem cell research?
Through education for researchers and the public, communication, and legal reinforcement.
