Stem Cells

• What are stem cells?

  Undifferentiated cells that can divide and specialize
• What is self-renewal in stem cells?

  Ability to divide and produce more stem cells
• What types of cells can stem cells differentiate into?

  Different types of specialized cells
• Where are embryonic stem cells found?

  In early-stage embryos
• What is the differentiation potential of embryonic stem cells?

  Can differentiate into any type of cell
• How are embryonic stem cells used in research?

  For treating diseases
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of embryonic stem cells?

  Advantages:

  • High potential for treatment
  • Can replace damaged cells

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Ethical issues (destroys embryos)
  • Risk of rejection in transplants
  • Risk of uncontrolled division leading to cancer
• Where are adult stem cells found?

  In bone marrow and other tissues
• What is the differentiation potential of adult stem cells?

  Can only differentiate into certain cell types
• How are adult stem cells used in medical treatments?

  In bone marrow transplants
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of adult stem cells?

  Advantages:

  • No ethical concerns
  • Can treat diseases like leukemia
  • Lower risk of rejection

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Limited differentiation ability
  • Harder to extract and grow
• Where are meristem stem cells found in plants?

  In the growing tips of roots and shoots
• What is the differentiation potential of meristem stem cells?

  Can differentiate into any type of plant cell
• What are the uses of plant stem cells?

  • Cloning rare species
  • Producing disease-resistant crops
  • Growing identical plants for farming
• How do scientists use stem cells to treat diseases?

  By replacing damaged tissues
• What is therapeutic cloning?

  Creating genetically identical stem cells from a patient
• What is a benefit of using a patient's own DNA in therapeutic cloning?

  No risk of rejection from the body
• What are the arguments for and against stem cell research?

  For:

  • Can treat serious diseases
  • Prevents rejection in therapeutic cloning
  • Could cure incurable conditions

  
  

  Against:

  • Embryos are potential human life
  • Expensive and not always successful
  • Risk of tumor formation or rejection
• Why do some countries ban embryonic stem cell research?

  Due to ethical concerns
• What are the less controversial types of stem cells?

  Adult stem cells and plant stem cells
• What is the aim of the practical investigating plant hormones?

  To investigate how auxins affect root or shoot growth.
• What equipment is needed for the practical on plant hormones?

  • Plant seedlings
  • Growth medium (agar or soil)
  • Different concentrations of auxin hormone
• What is the method for investigating the effect of auxins on plant growth?

  1. Place seedlings in different auxin concentrations.
  2. Keep other variables constant.
  3. Measure growth over time.
  4. Compare growth of shoots or roots.
• What is the result of higher auxin concentration on plant growth?

  Increased shoot growth
• What is the result of lower auxin concentration on plant growth?

  More root growth
• What are the differences between stem cells and specialized cells?

  • Stem cells can divide; specialized cells cannot.
  • Stem cells can differentiate; specialized cells cannot.
  • Examples: Stem cells (embryonic, adult, meristem) vs. specialized cells (nerve, muscle, red blood).
• What is differentiation in stem cells?

  When a stem cell becomes a specialized cell.
• What does totipotent mean?

  Can turn into any type of cell
• What does pluripotent mean?

  Can turn into most types of cells
• What does multipotent mean?

  Can turn into a few specific cell types
• What is a meristem in plants?

  The growing regions containing stem cells
• What is therapeutic cloning?

  Creating stem cells genetically identical to a patient