stem cells

• Two key features of stem cells:

  They can divide by mitosis to form more cells

  They can differentiate into specialised cells
• what happens when a sperm cell fertilises an egg?

  a zygote is formed
• How is an embryo formed?

  An embryo is formed when the zygote divides by mitosis
• can adult stem cells turn into any type of cell?

  no, only blood cells
• Can adult stem cells divide by mitosis?

  yes
• Where in the body are adult stem cells found?

  bone marrow
• What do we call the plant tissues that are continually growing and that contain stem cells?

  meristems
• Which two parts of the plant contain meristem tissue?

  tips of the roots and shoots
• What is a stem cell?

  unspecialised cells that can divide to create any cell
• What is an embryonic stem cell?

  stem cells that are found in embryos
• What is theraputic cloning?


  making an embryo using the patients genetic material so it wont reject
• what diseases can be treated by stem cells

  paralysis and diabetes
• risks of treating disease with stem cells

  can become contaminated, can cause cancer
• Meristem

  Undifferentiated plant tissue from which new cells are formed
• uses of cloning plants from meristems

  prevent extinction and grow identical crops
• two types of stem cells found in animals

  adult stem cells

  embryonic stem cells