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.
1State2 marks
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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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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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State the potency term used to describe a cell of a very early-stage embryo that can give rise to a complete organism, including its placenta.
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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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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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Which feature of a red blood cell allows it to carry the greatest amount of oxygen?
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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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Outline the two properties that an unspecialized cell must have in order to be classed as a stem cell.
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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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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 stem cell can form only one type of specialized cell.
Which potency term describes it?
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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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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 outcome when an unspecialized cell experiences a gradient of signalling chemicals during development.
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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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Which process is required to develop specialized tissues in a multicellular organism?
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State the two properties of stem cells that make them useful for treating disease.
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