Bio Topic 1: Stem cells

    Cards (27)

    • What is the main focus of the video?
      The use of stem cells in medicine
    • How can stem cells be used to treat diabetes?
      By replacing damaged pancreas cells
    • What condition can stem cells potentially treat related to nerve cells?
      Paralysis
    • What are the two important features of stem cells?
      They can divide and differentiate
    • What are the two main types of stem cells?
      Embryonic and adult stem cells
    • Where are embryonic stem cells found?
      In the early embryo
    • What can adult stem cells differentiate into?
      Different types of blood cells
    • What causes type 1 diabetes?
      Damage to pancreas cells
    • What is sickle cell anemia caused by?
      Misshapen red blood cells
    • What is the basic idea behind using stem cells in medicine?
      To replace faulty cells with healthy ones
    • How do scientists typically obtain embryonic stem cells?
      By extracting them from early embryos
    • What is a potential treatment for diabetic patients using stem cells?
      Injecting differentiated pancreas cells
    • What is a drawback of using embryonic stem cells?
      Limited supply and ethical issues
    • Why might a patient's immune system reject stem cells?
      Different genomes between embryo and patient
    • How can the risk of rejection be reduced?
      By suppressing the patient's immune system
    • What is a benefit of using adult stem cells?
      They can be taken from the patient
    • What is a limitation of adult stem cells?
      They can only differentiate into blood cells
    • What are the two potential risks of using stem cells?
      Virus transmission and tumor development
    • What does virus transmission refer to in stem cell therapy?
      Infected donor cells transferring viruses
    • Why is tumor development a concern with stem cells?
      Stem cells can divide uncontrollably
    • What is the ethical objection to using embryonic stem cells?
      Potential for human life in embryos
    • What do some people prioritize over embryo rights?
      Curing suffering individuals
    • Where do the embryos used in research typically come from?
      Unwanted embryos from fertility clinics
    • How is embryonic stem cell research regulated in the UK?
      It is legal but tightly controlled
    • What are the main applications of stem cells in medicine?
      • Treating diabetes by replacing pancreas cells
      • Treating paralysis by producing healthy nerve cells
      • Treating sickle cell anemia by creating healthy blood cells
    • What are the strengths and weaknesses of using embryonic versus adult stem cells?
      Strengths of embryonic stem cells:
      • Can differentiate into any cell type
      • Potential for treating various conditions

      Weaknesses of embryonic stem cells:
      • Limited supply
      • Ethical concerns
      • Risk of immune rejection

      Strengths of adult stem cells:
      • Easy to obtain
      • Lower risk of rejection

      Weaknesses of adult stem cells:
      • Limited to blood cell differentiation
      • Less versatile for treating other conditions
    • What are the potential risks associated with stem cell therapy?
      1. Virus transmission from donor cells
      2. Tumor development due to uncontrolled division
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