Stem cells

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What are the two types of stem cells?
Adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells
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What are embryonic stem cells?
These can develop into nearly all types of cells
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What are adult stem cells?
These can develop into only a few types of cells
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Why are embryonic stem cells important?
Because they can be used to develop into lots of different types of cells meaning they could be used to treat many medical problems
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What is the process of embryonic stem cells?
Embryonic stem cells first need to be extracted. They are then put wherever in the body they are needed so that they can develop into the appropriate specialised cell
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What are the risks if you use stem cells?
1. If stem cells are put into the body, they could produce the wrong kind of cell or even create cancer cells 2. People may try use embryonic stem cells to create clones (illegal)
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Where could you get embryonic stem cells from?
One way of extracting embryonic cells is to use leftover embryos created for couples having fertility treatment
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What are the problems of extracting embryonic stem cells?
Extracting the embryonic stem cells kills the embryo
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What are the ethics against extracting embryonic stem cells?
Some people think that the embryos goes on to develop into people, destroying embryos is the same as murder
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How do scientists resolve this issue?
1. Use adult cells to make cloned embryos - the embryonic cells could then be extracted from the clones without any natural embryos having to be killed. 2. Turn specialised body cells into stem cells by reprogramming them
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How are stem cells used to treat leukemia?
Adult stem cells are used in bone marrow transplants to treat leukemia. However adult stem cells can't develop into many different types of cells - so the number of diseases they can treat is limited
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Card 2

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What are embryonic stem cells?

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These can develop into nearly all types of cells

Card 3

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What are adult stem cells?

Back

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Card 4

Front

Why are embryonic stem cells important?

Back

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Card 5

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What is the process of embryonic stem cells?

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