stem cells and totipotency

Question 1

define cell differentiation

Answer 1

the process by which each cell develops into a specialised structure suited to the role that it will carry out.

Question 2

define totipotent cells

Answer 2

cells that can mature into any body cells

Question 3

define stem cells

Answer 3

undifferentiated dividing cells that occur in adult animal tissues. they need to be constantly replaced.

Question 4

define embryonic stem cells

Answer 4

can differentiate into any type of cell in the initial stages of development

Question 5

what are the 4 origins of stem cells

Answer 5

embryonic stem cells, umbilical cord blood stem cells, placental stem cells, adult stem cells

Question 6

types of stem cells

Answer 6

totipotent stem cells
pluripotent stem cells
multipotent stem cells
unipotent stem cells

Question 7

define totipotent stem cells

Answer 7

found in the early embryo and can differentiate into any type of cell

Question 8

define pluripotent stem cells

Answer 8

found in embryos and can differentiate into almost any type of cell

Question 9

define multipotent stem cells

Answer 9

found in adults and can differentiate into a limited number of specialised cells

Question 10

define unipotent stem cells

Answer 10

can only differentiate into a single type of cell

Question 11

examples of types of totipotent stem cells

Answer 11

zygote

Question 12

examples of types of pluripotent stem cells

Answer 12

embryonic stem cells

fetal stem cells

Question 13

examples of types of multipotent stem cells

Answer 13

adult stem cells

umbilical cord blood stem cells

Question 14

examples of types of unipotent stem cells

Answer 14

cardiomyocytes- heart muscle cells that can divide to produce new heart tissue

Question 15

order: pluripotent, multipotent, unipotent, totipotent

Answer 15

totipotent-> pluripotent-> multipotent-> unipotent

Question 16

define induced pluripotent stem cells

Answer 16

a type of pluripotent cell that is produced from unipotent stem cells

Question 17

uses of embryonic stem cells

Answer 17

• can be cloned to form almost any type of tissue in the body (means they can be used in transplants)
• can be used to study disease (can study how the disease develops and try out new drugs on them)
• allow us to study the earliest stages of human development (useful in preventing miscarriages/treating birth defect and infertility)

Question 18

how do adult stem cells differ from embryonic stem cells (2)

Answer 18

adult stem cells are multipotent- only develop into certain cells
embryonic stem cells are totipotent- can develop into any kind of cell
(ES cells are pluripotent after the forming of the blastocyst)