To start with, what are the cells in an embryo called?
Embryonic stem cells
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Are embryonic stem cells all the same or all different?
All the same
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Are embryonic stem cells undifferentiated or specialised?
Undifferentiated
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What does 'undifferentiated' mean?
They 'can produce any type of specialised cell'
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In humans, up to what stage are embryo cells undifferentiated?
8 cell stage
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What is the process of stem cells becoming specialised called?
Differentiation
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After the 8 cell stage, what do most of the cells in a human embryo start to do?
Differentiate
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What does a human embryo develop after most of the stem cells have started to differentiate?
Tissues and organs
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What is tissue?
Groups of specialised cells
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What are organs?
Groups of tissues
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Where can you find stem cells in adults?
Bone marrow
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Can adult stem cells become specialised?
Yes
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What is the problem with adult stem cells becoming specialised?
They aren't as versatile as embryonic stem cells - they can only differentiate into certain types of cell
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In specialised cells, are most of the genes active or inactive?
Inactive
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What does most of the genes in specialised cells being inactive mean?
They only produce the specific proteins they need
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What does a gene in an adult undifferentiated cell determine?
They type of cell a stem cell specialises into
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What are adult stem cells already used for?
To cure some diseases
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Can you give an example of a disease that adult stem cells can treat, and how?
People with blood diseases can be treated using bone marrow. Bone marrow contains stem cells that can turn in to new blood cells and replace the old ones
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When can embryonic stem cells be extracted from human embryos?
Very early
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How do scientists control differentiation, to get one specific type of cell?
By altering the conditions to activate certain genes
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Why do some people disagree with embryonic stem cell research?
It can be seen as unethical because embryos are destroyed in the process
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In the process of cloning, what do you take from the egg cell?
Nucleus
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In the process of cloning, what is inserted into the 'empty' egg cell?
A nucleus from a body cell
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In the process of cloning, what happens under the right conditions so that an embryo can form?
Inactive genes in the nucleus of the body cell are reactivated
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After cloning, what can then be extracted from the embryo?
Embryonic stem cells
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What can cloning be used to make?
Stem cells
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Are embryonic stem cells all the same or all different?
Back
All the same
Card 3
Front
Are embryonic stem cells undifferentiated or specialised?
Back
Card 4
Front
What does 'undifferentiated' mean?
Back
Card 5
Front
In humans, up to what stage are embryo cells undifferentiated?
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