Unit 1.4 Cellular Differentiation

Question 1

What is cellular differentiation?

Answer 1

The process by which a cell expresses certain genes to produce the proteins characteristic for that type of cell

Question 2

What does cellular differentiation allow cells to do?

Answer 2

allows cells to carry out specialised functions

Question 3

What are meristems?

Answer 3

Regions of unspecialised cells in plants that can divide in order to self renew

Question 4

What are stem cells?

Answer 4

Unspecialised cells in animals that can differentiate in order to self renew

Question 5

What are the two types of stem cells?

Answer 5

-Embryonic stem cells
-Adult tissue stem cells

Question 6

What are tissue stem cells?

Answer 6

multipotent cells as they can differentiate into all the types of cells found in a particular type of tissue

Question 7

What are embryonic stem cells?

Answer 7

Pluripotent cells that can differentiate into any type of cell as all of the genes in an embryonic stem cell can be expressed.

Question 8

What are some of the therapeutic uses of embryonic stem cells?

Answer 8

Embryonic stem cells can be used to repair damaged or diseased organs or tissues

Question 9

What are some of the research uses of embryonic stem cells?

Answer 9

-Being used as model cells to investigate how diseases develop
-Can be used for drug testing
-provides information about how cell processes such as growth gene regulation and differentiation work

Question 10

What are the ethical issues associated with the use of embryonic stem cells?

Answer 10

Embryonic stem cells have vast applications in both research and therapeutic uses, however to obtain these cells embryos must be destroyed.