Stem cells~

• A differentiated cell is a cell that has become specialised.
• The first type of cells in a developing embryo are called stem cells.
• Stem cells are undifferentiated cells.
• An embryo is made up entirely of stem cells up until 4 days after fertilisation.
• After the 4 days stem cells become specialised.
• Plant cells are different to human cells in terms of differentiation as their cells stay differentiated through out their life.
• Stem cells are cells that are undifferentiated and have the capacity to develop into specialised cells.
• Stems cells can be used to treat patients with paralysis, burns and heart attacks.
• The stem cells would be used to replace the damaged heart cells, paralysed cells or skin cells to 'heal' people.
• Potential uses of stem cells are:

  -Treating patients with untreatable conditions.

  -Growing organs for transplants.

  -Research
• Stem cells can be taken from adult tissue (e.g bone marrow) or an embryo.
• Stem cells can be made to differentiate into many different type's of cells e.g nerve cells.
• People think it is unethical to use embryonic stem cells as it is classed as destroying an embryo that could develop into a person.
• Adult stem cells are found in limited numbers.
• The disadvantages of using adult stem cells is that they can only differentiate into related cell types & limited number.
• The advantages of using your own stem cells to treat medical conditions are:

  -No rejection.

  -No need to find donor.

  -No need for tissue repair.

  -No destroying an embryo.