stem cells

• undifferentiated cells divide to produce more of the cells
• stem cells - found in early human embryos and bone marrow

  they can be grown in a lab to produce clones and made to differentiate into specialised cells to use in medicine
• adult stem cells = bone marrow - cure diseases
• embryonic stem cells replace faulty cells
• theraputic cloning - embryo can be made to have the same genetic information as patient

  • stem cells produced from it would contain same genes so it wouldn't be rejected by patients body
  • RISK - stem cells grown in lab can be contaminated with virus, could be passed on to patient and make them more sick

  
  

  ADV: cure diseases

  unlikely to be rejected by patients body

  many cells would be produced

  
  

  DIS: potential life may be killed

  unsure of any side effects on patient

  virus may be transferred to patient
• Plants - stem cells found in meristem,

  cells inside meristem tissues can differentiate into any type of plant cell

  stem cells can produce clones of whole plants quickly

  can be used to grow more plants of rare species ->prevents extinction