stem cells

• What is a stem cell?

  A stem cell is an undifferentiated cell that can give rise to more cells of the same type and can differentiate into other types of cells.
• Where are stem cells found in animals?

  Stem cells are found in embryos and adult organisms, such as in bone marrow.
• Where are stem cells found in plants?

  Stem cells are found in the meristem tissue at the tips of roots and buds.
• What is the process called when cells specialize into different types of cells?

  The process is called differentiation.
• What happens to the fertilized ovum in humans?

  The fertilized ovum undergoes mitosis and forms a ball of cells called an embryo.
• What is the difference between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells?

  Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into any type of body cell, while adult stem cells cannot.
• How are stem cells used in bone marrow transplants?

  Stem cells from a donor's bone marrow are transplanted to replace the patient's destroyed bone marrow.
• What is a major risk associated with bone marrow transplants?

  A major risk is that the donor's white blood cells may attack the patient's body if they are not compatible.
• What is therapeutic cloning?

  Therapeutic cloning involves producing an embryo with the same genes as the patient to avoid rejection by the immune system.
• How can stem cells be used to treat diabetes?

  Stem cells can differentiate to replace cells that are not functioning correctly in diabetes.
• What are some ethical concerns regarding therapeutic cloning?

  Some people have ethical or religious objections to the procedure of therapeutic cloning.
• What is meristem tissue in plants?

  Meristem tissue contains stem cells that can differentiate into any type of plant tissue.
• How can meristem tissue be used in agriculture?

  Meristem tissue can be used to produce clones of plants quickly and cheaply.
• Why might farmers want to clone crop plants?

  Farmers might want to clone crop plants to produce plants that are resistant to diseases.
• What are the main uses of stem cells in medicine?

  • Bone marrow transplants for leukemia treatment
  • Therapeutic cloning to replace damaged cells
• What are the stages of development from a fertilized ovum to an adult organism?

  1. Fertilization of the ovum
  2. Mitosis to form an embryo
  3. Differentiation into specialized cells
  4. Formation of the adult organism
• What are the differences between embryonic and adult stem cells in terms of differentiation?

  • Embryonic stem cells: Can differentiate into any type of body cell
  • Adult stem cells: Limited to differentiating into specific cell types
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of using stem cells for medical treatments?

  Strengths:

  • Potential to treat various diseases
  • Can replace damaged cells

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Ethical concerns
  • Risk of rejection or complications