Unit 2: Form and Function
Topic 2.5: Stem Cells and Differentiation Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB Biology Topic 2.5. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1Identify1 mark
From an electron micrograph, a student must NAME a specialized cell that has a single long tail and many mitochondria packed behind its head.
Which cell is it?
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State the term used to describe a cell, such as a mature mammalian red blood cell, that has no nucleus.
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Which feature of a red blood cell allows it to carry the greatest amount of oxygen?
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A stem cell can form only one type of specialized cell.
Which potency term describes it?
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What does it mean to say a gene is 'expressed' in a cell?
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An electron micrograph shows a single specialized cell with a long, thin projection extending out from its surface.
The cell is part of the outer layer of a plant root.
State the name of this specialized cell.
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A mature red blood cell and a phloem sieve tube element are both described as atypical cells.
Which feature do they share that makes them atypical?
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In a developing embryo, unspecialized cells give rise to specialized nerve cells.
What is the name of the process that produces these specialized cells?
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Which two properties of a stem cell make it useful for treating disease?
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Outline the two properties that an unspecialized cell must have in order to be classed as a stem cell.
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A palisade mesophyll cell and an intestine lining cell are both specialized cells — one from a plant, one from an animal.
State two membrane-bound organelles that are found in both of these cells.
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Which specialized human cell has the largest volume?
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Two cells shown in micrographs each contain several nuclei within a single cell.
Which term best describes both cells?
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After differentiation, two specialized cells from the same organism are very different.
What actually differs between them?
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Which process is required to develop specialized tissues in a multicellular organism?
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An unspecialized cell in a developing embryo experiences a gradient of signalling chemicals.
What is the outcome?
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Which pair of abilities must a cell have to be classed as a stem cell?
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Which of the following is a therapeutic use of stem cells?
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A single cell from a very early-stage mouse embryo can develop into a complete organism, including its placenta.
What is the potency of this cell?
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State the process by which unspecialized cells in a developing embryo become specialized cells such as neurons.
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