1.4 Cellular differentiation

• Describe the two things that unspecialised cells can do.

  Self renew (produce more unspecialised cells)

  Differentiate (create a specialised cell)
• What are unspecialised cells called in plants and animals?

  Plants- Meristems

  Animals- Stem cells
• Name the two types of stem cells

  Embryonic

  Tissue
• Embryonic stem cells are describes as pluripotent. what does this mean?


  They are able to differentiate into all cell types, this is because all of the genes in the cell can be switched on.
• Explain what is meant by the term 'multipotent' for tissue stem cells.

  They can only differentiate into the cell types of the tissue they are found in.
• State the purpose of stem cells for therapeutic use and give 2 examples.

  Repair of damaged tissue or diseased organs.

  -Corneal repair

  -Regeneration of damaged skin
• Describe why we use stem cells for research and give two examples.

  Provides information on how cell processes such as cell growth, differentiation, and gene regulation work.

  -Model cells

  -Drug testing
• Why does embryonic stem cell research raise ethical concerns?

  It involves the destruction of embryos.