Cell differentiation

Cards (27)

  • What is the term for the early stage of human development after fertilization?
    Blastocyst
  • What is the term for the fertilized egg before it develops into a blastocyst?
    Zygote
  • At what stage is the developing human referred to as a fetus?
    After the 8th week
  • What is the term for the solid ball of cells formed after several divisions of the zygote?
    Morula
  • What are the two main components of a blastocyst?
    Inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm
  • What are the three fundamental aspects of developmental biology?
    1. Cell division
    2. Cell differentiation
    3. Morphogenesis
  • What is cell division?
    Growth of cell populations where one cell divides to produce two daughter cells
  • What is cell differentiation?
    Process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type
  • What is morphogenesis?
    Process that controls the organized spatial distribution of cells
  • How do all cells arise in a developing organism?
    All cells arise from a single fertilized egg and contain the same DNA
  • What is differential gene expression?
    Cells become different because they express different genes
  • What role do adult stem cells play in cellular differentiation?
    Adult stem cells divide and create fully differentiated daughter cells during tissue repair
  • What is the term for specialized cells that cannot divide to make copies of themselves?
    Terminally differentiated cells
  • What are the two main properties of stem cells?
    Self-renewal and differentiation
  • What is a stem cell niche?
    Microenvironment around stem cells that provides support and signals for self-renewal and differentiation
  • Where are embryonic stem cells found?
    In the inner cell mass of the blastocyst
  • What is the potency of tissue stem cells?
    Tissue stem cells are multipotent
  • What is the difference between pluripotent and totipotent stem cells?
    Pluripotent can make all types of specialized cells except extraembryonic tissues, while totipotent can make all types including extraembryonic tissues
  • What are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells)?
    Adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to behave like embryonic stem cells
  • What is the advantage of iPS cells over embryonic stem cells?
    No need for embryos
  • What is therapeutic cloning?
    Transfer of nuclear material from a somatic cell into an enucleated oocyte to derive embryonic stem cell lines
  • What is the purpose of regenerative medicine?
    To treat diseases by replacing irreversibly lost or damaged cells
  • How do cancer stem cells (CSCs) differ from other cancer cells?
    CSCs can initiate tumors and have different sensitivities to treatments
  • What is the cancer stem cell hypothesis?
    Cure of cancer may require elimination of both CSCs and non-CSC majority of cancer cells
  • What are the hallmarks of cancer?
    Biological capabilities acquired during the multistep development of human tumors
  • What are some ethical concerns regarding stem cell research?
    Questions about the rights of human embryos and the justification for embryo destruction
  • What are the key points regarding stem cells?
    • Cellular differentiation: cells become specialized by expressing different genes
    • Stem cells have two properties: self-renewal and differentiation
    • Types of stem cells:
    • Embryonic stem cells (pluripotent)
    • Tissue stem cells (multipotent)
    • Induced pluripotent stem cells