Save
AQA Biology
Stem Cells
Save
Share
Learn
Content
Leaderboard
Learn
Created by
zara k
Visit profile
Cards (10)
Stem
cell
An
undifferentiated
cell which can give rise to more cells of the same type and can
differentiate
into other types of cells
Fertilization
1.
Sperm
cell joins with
ovum
2.
Fertilized
ovum undergoes
mitosis
3. Forms a ball of cells called an
embryo
4. Cells continue to undergo
mitosis
and begin to form
specialized
cells
5. Process of
differentiation
Embryonic
stem cells
Cells in
early
stage embryo that have not
differentiated
and are capable of differentiating into any type of body cell
Adult
stem cells
Found in adult organisms, cannot
differentiate
into any other type of cell (e.g.
bone marrow
stem cells form
blood
cells)
Bone marrow transplant
1. Patient's existing bone marrow
destroyed
2. Patient receives
transplant
of
donor
bone marrow
3. Stem cells in bone marrow
divide
and form new bone marrow and
blood
cells
Problems with bone marrow transplants
Donor
must be compatible, risk of viruses being
passed
from donor to patient
Therapeutic cloning
1.
Embryo
produced with same
genes
as patient
2.
Stem cells
from embryo can be transplanted into patient without being
rejected
3. Stem cells can then
differentiate
to replace
malfunctioning
cells
Therapeutic
cloning could be useful for a range of
medical conditions
, but some have ethical/religious objections
Plant stem cells
Found in
meristem
tissue at root tips and buds
Can
differentiate
into any type of
plant
tissue at any point in plant's life
Using plant stem cells
1. Can clone
rare
plants to prevent
extinction
2. Can produce
cloned
crop plants resistant to
diseases