Stem cells

• Stem cell


  An undifferentiated cell that can develop into one or more types of specialised cells
• Types of stem cells in mammals


  • Adult stem cells
  • Embryonic stem cells
• Stem cells


  • Can be cloned to produce large numbers of identical cells
• Adult stem cells


  Found in specific parts of the body in adults and children, e.g. bone marrow
• Embryonic stem cells


  Found in early human embryos, often taken from spare embryos from fertility clinics
• Meristem


  Regions in plant roots and shoots where stem cells are found
• Adult stem cells


  • Can only differentiate into certain types of cells, e.g. blood cells
• Embryonic stem cells


  • Can differentiate into any type of specialised cell in the body, e.g. nerve cell or muscle cell
• Plant stem cells


  • Can differentiate into all cell types, can be used to create clones of whole plants
• Therapeutic cloning


  1. Cells from patient's body used to create cloned early embryo

  2. Stem cells from embryo used for medical treatments and growing new organs

  3. Stem cells have same genes as patient, less likely to be rejected