Stem cells
Cards (13)
- Stem cellsUndifferentiated cells that can divide to produce many undifferentiated cells and differentiate into different cell types
- Embryonic stem cells
- Can turn into ANY type of cell
- Found in early embryos
- Have the potential to form into any cell type
- DifferentiationThe process by which cells change to become specialised for their job
- Adult stem cells
- Found in certain places like bone marrow
- Can't turn into any cell type, only certain ones like blood cells
- Growing stem cells in a lab1. Can produce clones (genetically identical cells)2. Can be made to differentiate into specialised cells for medicine or research
- Medicine already uses adult stem cells to cure disease
- Embryonic stem cells
- Could be used to replace faulty cells in sick people
- Could be made to contain the same genetic information as the patient so they wouldn't be rejected
- There are risks involved in using stem cells in medicine, like stem cells grown in the lab becoming contaminated with a virus
- Arguments against stem cell research
- Human embryos shouldn't be used for experiments as each one is a potential human life
- Curing existing patients who are suffering is more important than the rights of embryos
- Embryos used are usually unwanted ones from fertility clinics that would probably be destroyed anyway
- Scientists should concentrate more on finding and developing other sources of stem cells
- In some countries stem cell research is banned, but it's allowed in the UK as long as it follows strict guidelines
- Plant stem cells
- Found in the meristems (parts of the plant where growth occurs)
- Throughout the plant's life, can differentiate into any type of plant cell
- Using plant stem cells1. Can produce clones (identical copies) of whole plants quickly and cheaply2. Can grow more plants of rare species to prevent them being wiped out3. Can grow crops of identical plants with desired features like disease resistance
- Florists sell stems, and nobody complains about that