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All 12 Flashcards — Stem cells in medicine
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Question
What is a stem cell?
Answer
An **unspecialized** cell that can **divide (self-renew)** and **differentiate** into one or more specialized cell types.
Question
Which two properties make stem cells useful in medicine?
Answer
They can **divide** to make many cells, and they can **differentiate** into the specialized cell type that is needed.
Question
What is self-renewal?
Answer
A stem cell's ability to **divide by mitosis** to make more cells (including more stem cells), so the supply is not used up.
Question
What is differentiation?
Answer
The process by which an **unspecialized** cell becomes a **specialized** cell with a particular structure and function.
Question
How do stem cells treat a disease that destroys a cell type?
Answer
They **divide** to make many new cells, then **differentiate** into the exact lost cell type, replacing the missing cells and restoring function.
Question
Why are stem cells suitable to replace cells the body cannot regrow?
Answer
Because they can **divide** to make enough cells and **differentiate** into the specific specialized cell that was lost.
Question
Where do embryonic stem cells come from, and how flexible are they?
Answer
From **very early embryos**; they can become **almost any** cell type (very flexible).
Question
Where do adult (tissue) stem cells come from?
Answer
From **body tissues** such as **bone marrow**; they can become only a **few** related cell types.
Question
What is the main ethical issue with embryonic stem cells?
Answer
They are taken from an **early embryo**, which would otherwise develop — this raises **ethical objections**.
Question
Why do adult stem cells raise fewer ethical concerns?
Answer
**No embryo is used** — they are taken from body tissues, often from the patient themselves.
Question
Give one therapeutic use of stem cells.
Answer
**Replacing cells lost to disease or injury** (e.g. blood, nerve or skin cells) that the body cannot regrow on its own.
Question
In stem-cell data, what shows division and what shows differentiation?
Answer
A **rise in cell number** shows **division**; the appearance of **named specialized cells** shows **differentiation**.
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Topic 2.5 hub
Cell specialization
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