Types Of Stem Cells

Question 1

Totipotent stem cells: Where are they found? What do they do? ( With example )

Answer 1

> Found in the early embryo

> Can differentiate into any type of cell

> e.g. Zygotes are totipotent

Question 2

Pluripotent stem cells: Where are they found? What do they do? ( With example )

Answer 2

> Found in embryos

> Can differentiate into almost any type of cell

> e.g. Embryonic stem cells & fetal stem cells are pluripotent

Question 3

Multipotent stem cells: Where are they found? What do they do? ( With example )

Answer 3

> Found in adults

> Can differentiate into a limited number of specialised cells

> Usually develop into cells of a particular type e.g. stem cells in the bone marrow can produce any type of blood cell

> e.g. Adult stem cells and umbilical cord stem cells are multipotent

Question 4

Unipotent stem cells: Where are they found? What do they do? ( With example )

Answer 4

> Made in adult tissue

> Only differentiate into a single type of cell

> Derived from multipotent stem cells

Question 5

Mature plants have?

Answer 5

> Many totipotent cells

> Under the right conditions, these cells can differentiate into any type of stem cell

Question 6

Specialisation

Answer 6

> Specialisation is irreversible in most animal cells.

> In mature mammals, a few cells retain the ability to differentiate ( stem cells )

> Self renewal : dividing to form an identical copy of themselves