Stem Cells

• Stem cells


  Undifferentiated cells that can divide to produce more undifferentiated cells and differentiate into different types of cells
• Embryonic stem cells


  • Can turn into any type of cell
  • Found in early human embryos
  • Have the potential to turn into any kind of cell
• Differentiation


  The process by which a cell changes to become specialised for its job
• Adult stem cells


  • Only found in certain places like bone marrow
  • Can't turn into any cell type at all, only certain ones like blood cells
• Stem cell research


  1. Grow stem cells from embryos and bone marrow in a lab

  2. Produce clones (genetically identical cells)

  3. Make stem cells differentiate into specialised cells for use in medicine or research
• Stem cells from embryos and bone marrow


  Can be used to replace faulty cells in sick people
• Therapeutic cloning


  An embryo is made to have the same genetic information as the patient, so the stem cells produced wouldn't be rejected by the patient's body
• There are risks involved in using stem cells in medicine, such as stem cells becoming contaminated with a virus
• 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 entire life, cells in the meristem tissues can differentiate into any type of plant cell
• Uses of plant stem cells


  • Produce clones (identical copies) of whole plants quickly and cheaply
  • Grow more plants of rare species to prevent them being wiped out
  • Grow crops of identical plants with desired features for farmers, e.g. disease resistance
• Arguments against stem cell research


  • It is unethical to use human embryos as each one has the potential of living a life
  • Some feel that scientists should focus on finding new sources of stem cells rather than using embryos.
• Arguments for stem cell research

  • Curing patients who already exist and are suffering is more important than the rights of embryos
  • Embryos used are usually unwanted ones from fertility clinics that would probably just be destroyed if not used for research