Cell division

• What's a stem cell?

  An undifferentiated cell that can become any other type of cell
• What are the two main features of stem cells?

  They can differentiate into different types of specialised cells and they can divide by mitosis to form more cells
• What are four types of stem cells?

  Totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent and unipotent
• What is the potency of a stem cell?

  Its ability to differentiate into different cell types
• What does it mean if a stem cell has a high potency?

  It can differentiate into many cell types
• What are totipotent stem cells?

  Can differentiate into any type of cell and go on to form whole organisms
• What are pluripotent stem cells?

  Can differentiate into most types of cells, but can't form whole organisms
• What are multipotent stem cells?

  Can only differentiate into a few different types of cell
• What's a unipotent stem cell?

  Can only differentiate into one type of cell
• Where are stem cells found?

  Early embryos, adults and plants
• What are stem cells by organisms for?

  Growth, development and tissue repair
• What type of stem cell has the greatest potency?

  Totipotent
• Where are plant stem cells found?

  In the meristematic tissue or meristems
• Where can meristematic tissue be found?

  Between phloem and xylem tissues in the vascular cambium or at the tips of the shoots and roots of plants
• What can stem cells be used for in research and medicine?

  Testing new drugs for side effects and toxicity, studying development of organisms from a single cell, identifying causes of disorders and where something goes wrong in development
• What disorders can stem cells help with and why?

  Parkinson's and Alzheimer's as can help regenerate lost nerve cells and reduce symptoms
• How are stem cells useful in research and medicine?

  Can differentiate to replace faulty cells or tissues
• What potency do adult stem cells have?

  multipotency
• What type of stem cells can differentiate into extra-embryonic cells?

  Totipotent stem cells
• What are extra-embryonic cells?

  Cells that make up the placenta
• What's stem cell therapy?

  Introducing adult stem cells into damage tissue to treat diseases and injuries
• Types of differentiate cells that arise from a common stem cell within bone marrow

  erythrocytes and neutrophils