Stem Cells

• What does totipotent mean?

  • Stem cells that can differentiate into any type of cell
  • They can also differentiate into extra-embryonic tissues like the amnion and umbilicus
• What does pluripotent mean?

  • These stem cells can form all tissue types but not whole organisms
  • They are present in early embryos
• What does multipotent mean?

  • These stem cells can only form a range of cells within a certain type of tissue
• What are stem cells?

  Unspecialised cells that can divide and differentiate into cells with a specific function
• What are some qualities of stem cells and specialized cells?

  • 1 stem cell is self renewal- maintains the stem cell pool
  • 4 specialized cells differentiation- replaces dead or damaged cells throughout your life
• Harvesting embryonic stem cells (blastocyst):

  • Outer layer of cells 'trophectodem' - capable of producing any type of cell
  • Embryonic stem cells taken from inner cell mass
  • Taken to lab with fluid nutrients to grow more cells
• What do induced pluripotent stem cells go through?

  They go through genetic reprogramming