What is a stem cell GCSE AQA?

Stem cells are cells that have not undergone differentiation . A cell which has not yet become specialised is called undifferentiated.

What can stem cells be used for GCSE?

Stem cells can divide to produce new cells, which can then divide into different cell types. They therefore have the potential to be transplanted into patients to treat medical conditions and disease. They could be used to replace cells that have been damaged or destroyed, for example: in type 1 diabetes.

How are animal stem cells different from plant stem cells GCSE?

Embryonic stem cells are more flexible in terms of what they can become compared to stem cells found in the bone marrow of adults. Plant cells retain their ability to differentiate (specialise) throughout their life, whereas Animal cells are mainly restricted to repair and replacement in later life.

Which type of stem cell is most useful and why GCSE?

Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into a wider range of cell types, but are difficult to obtain and their use raises ethical challenges. The best source is the five-day-old embryo. Adult stem cells will differentiate into a narrower range of cell types.

What type of stem cell is better?

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they can give rise to every cell type in the fully formed body, but not the placenta and umbilical cord. These cells are incredibly valuable because they provide a renewable resource for studying normal development and disease, and for testing drugs and other therapies.

What are disadvantages of embryonic stem cells?

The main disadvantage with embryonic stem cells is the way that they are acquired. Since human embryos are destroyed during the process of harvesting embryonic cells, this makes the research unpopular with those that believe human life begins at conception and that this life is being destroyed.

Where are stem cells found in animals GCSE?

Stem cells are simple, unspecialised cells found in animals and plants that have the ability to divide to form cells of the same type. They can also differentiate into a variety of specialised cells. Stem cells can be harvested from embryonic umbilical cord or adult bone marrow.

What can stem cells treat BBC Bitesize?

Stem cells are cells found in animal bodies and are capable of carrying out cell division and developing into specialised types of cells. Stem cells could potentially be given to people to help replace parts of organs that have been damaged by injuries or diseases.

Why are stem cells cloned GCSE?

Therapeutic cloning could produce stem cells with the same genetic make-up as the patient. The technique involves the transfer of the nucleus from a cell of the patient, to an egg cell whose nucleus has been removed. Stem cells produced in this way could be transferred to the patient.

Why are stem cells Bad?

One of the bad things about stem cells is that they have been over-hyped by the media in regard to their readiness for treating multiple diseases. As a result, stem cell tourism has become a lucrative yet unethical business worldwide.

Can a parent donate stem cells to a child?

A person who provides the stem cells is a donor. When stem cells come from another person, the stem cells must have similar genetic makeup. Usually, a child’s brother or sister is a good match. A parent or even an unrelated person sometimes can be a match.

Why is embryonic stem cell research wrong?

However, human embryonic stem cell (HESC) research is unethical since it results in the destruction of human life for research purposes. HESC research is morally wrong since it is the direct destruction of innocent human life and does not benefit the individual embryo undergoing the research (3).

What are stem cells GCSE Biology?

Unit 2 – Stem Cells. Stem cells are one of the major discoveries of modern science. They have the ability to become any other type of cell and could be used to repair damaged organs or in the treatment of disease. This GCSE Biology quiz looks more closely at stem cells and how we can use them.

What are stem cells used for in biology?

They have the ability to become any other type of cell and could be used to repair damaged organs or in the treatment of disease. This GCSE Biology quiz looks more closely at stem cells and how we can use them. It also asks some ethical questions about their use.

How do stem cells differentiate into different types of cells?

The stem cells found in the meristems of plants retain the ability to differentiate into any type of plant cell throughout the life of the plant These embryonic stem cells can then be encouraged to differentiate into most types of specialised cell

What happens to stem cells at the early stages of development?

Cells at the early stages in the development of the embryo are stem cells. If cells are removed from the embryo – called embryonic stem cells – they will differentiate into any cell type. Some stem cells remain in the bodies of adults – adult stem cells.