stem cells

• What is differentiation in the context of stem cells?

  Differentiation is the process by which a cell changes to become specialized for its job.
• What are undifferentiated cells called?

  Undifferentiated cells are called stem cells.
• What can stem cells do in terms of cell division?

  Stem cells can divide to produce more undifferentiated cells.
• How do stem cells differentiate?

  Stem cells can differentiate into different types of cells depending on the instructions they receive.
• Where are stem cells found in early human development?

  Stem cells are found in early human embryos.
• Why are embryonic stem cells exciting to doctors and researchers?

  Embryonic stem cells can turn into any kind of cell, which is crucial for medical research.
• Where are adult stem cells primarily found?

  Adult stem cells are primarily found in certain places like bone marrow.
• How do adult stem cells differ from embryonic stem cells?

  Adult stem cells can only differentiate into certain types of cells, unlike embryonic stem cells.
• What can stem cells from embryos and bone marrow be used for in a lab?

  They can be grown to produce clones and made to differentiate into specialized cells for medicine or research.
• How are adult stem cells currently used in medicine?

  Adult stem cells are used to replace faulty blood cells in patients.
• What potential use do embryonic stem cells have in treating diseases?

  Embryonic stem cells could replace faulty cells in sick people, such as insulin-producing cells for diabetics.
• What is therapeutic cloning?

  Therapeutic cloning involves creating an embryo with the same genetic information as the patient to avoid rejection.
• What is a risk associated with using stem cells in medicine?

  Stem cells grown in the lab may become contaminated with a virus, making the patient sicker.
• Why are some people against stem cell research?

  Some people believe human embryos shouldn't be used for experiments as they are potential human lives.
• What do some people prioritize over the rights of embryos in stem cell research?

  Some people prioritize curing existing patients who are suffering over the rights of embryos.
• What is the argument regarding unwanted embryos in stem cell research?

  Embryos used in research are usually unwanted ones from fertility clinics that would likely be destroyed otherwise.
• What do campaigners for the rights of embryos advocate for?

  They advocate for finding and developing other sources of stem cells to help people without using embryos.
• In which countries is stem cell research banned?

  In some countries, stem cell research is banned.
• Where are stem cells found in plants?

  Stem cells in plants are found in the meristems.
• What can stem cells in meristem tissues do throughout a plant's life?

  Cells in meristem tissues can differentiate into any type of plant cell throughout the plant's life.
• What are the uses of plant stem cells found in meristems?

  • Produce clones of whole plants quickly and cheaply
  • Grow more plants of rare species to prevent extinction
  • Grow crops of identical plants with desired features, such as disease resistance