GCSE · Biology · AQA · Spec 8461

Stem cells

One kind of stem cell can become any type of cell in its organism, for life. Another, most types. Another, many. Can you tell which is which?

Stem cells

Three sources, three ranges

Where does each statement belong? Tick every source it is true of: one, two, all three, or none.

  • A Embryonic stem cells (from human embryos)
  • B Adult bone marrow stem cells
  • C Meristem stem cells (in plants)
  1. Is undifferentiated, and can give rise to many more cells of the same type
  2. Comes from an animal, not a plant
  3. Can differentiate into any type of cell in its organism, throughout the organism's life
  4. Can be made to differentiate into most different types of human cells
  5. Taken from an adult animal, and can form many types of cells, including blood cells
  6. Can differentiate into any type of human cell

One definition, two abilities

More of the same typevsOther cells, by differentiation

A stem cell is an undifferentiated cell that can do both of these.

Focus

What arises from the stem cell

More of the same type

Many more cells of the same type as itself

Other cells, by differentiation

Certain other types of cell

The insight

Both come from the same undifferentiated cell. One ability keeps making stem cells; the other is where different cells come from.

Same type as the stem cell?

More of the same type

Yes: the new cells are the same type

Other cells, by differentiation

No: they are other cells

Example in adult bone marrow

More of the same type

A bone marrow stem cell giving rise to more bone marrow stem cells

Other cells, by differentiation

A bone marrow stem cell forming blood cells

Words to use in a definition

More of the same type

"gives rise to many more cells of the same type"

Other cells, by differentiation

"other cells can arise from it by differentiation"

Therapeutic cloning

?

Reason it through

Why may stem cells from therapeutic cloning be used to treat a patient?

Link 1 of 3

First link · your turn

In therapeutic cloning, what is produced, and whose genes does it have?

2
Locked — reveal the link above first
3
Locked — reveal the link above first

Stem cells in medicine

Should stem cells be used to treat patients?

The claim

Stem cells should be used to treat patients.

Place each piece of evidence to load the balance. Mark the strong ones — they count double.

  1. Treatment with stem cells may be able to help conditions such as diabetes and paralysis.

    Evidence 1: does it support or challenge the claim?

  2. Stem cells from therapeutic cloning are not rejected by the patient's body.

    Evidence 2: does it support or challenge the claim?

  3. Using stem cells has potential risks, such as transfer of viral infection.

    Evidence 3: does it support or challenge the claim?

  4. Some people have ethical or religious objections to the use of stem cells.

    Evidence 4: does it support or challenge the claim?

Predict, then check

Stem cells in plants, put to work.

A farmer has one crop plant with a special feature: it resists a disease. Stem cells from its meristems are used to produce clones of it. What does the farmer end up with?

WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED

A quick recap of today's lesson.

Embryos, adult bone marrow and plant meristems: what each kind of stem cell can become, and how stem cells are used in medicine and in growing plants.

What you need to know

  • What a stem cell is: an undifferentiated cell that can give rise to many more cells of the same type, and from which other cells can arise by differentiation.
  • The range of cells each source can become: embryonic stem cells, adult bone marrow stem cells and meristem tissue.
  • Why stem cells from therapeutic cloning are not rejected by the patient's body.
  • The possible benefits of stem cell treatment, and its potential risks and objections.
  • Why stem cells from meristems are used to clone plants: rare species, and crops with special features.

The big picture

A stem cell is undifferentiated: it can make many more cells of its own type, and other cells can arise from it by differentiation. The sources differ in range: embryonic stem cells, most types of human cells; adult bone marrow, many types including blood cells; plant meristems, any type of plant cell for life. Therapeutic cloning gives stem cells a patient does not reject, weighed against risks and objections, and meristems clone plants quickly and cheaply.

Key points

1A stem cell is undifferentiated. It can give rise to many more cells of the same type, and certain other cells can arise from it by differentiation.
2Stem cells from human embryos can be cloned and made to differentiate into most different types of human cells.
3Stem cells from adult bone marrow can form many types of cells, including blood cells.
4Meristem tissue in plants can differentiate into any type of plant cell, throughout the life of the plant.
5In therapeutic cloning an embryo is produced with the same genes as the patient, so its stem cells are not rejected and may be used for medical treatment.
6Stem cell treatment may be able to help conditions such as diabetes and paralysis. Potential risks include transfer of viral infection, and some people have ethical or religious objections.
7Stem cells from meristems can produce clones of plants quickly and economically: rare species can be cloned to protect them from extinction, and crop plants with features such as disease resistance can be cloned to give farmers large numbers of identical plants.

Worked example

Problem

A student writes: "Embryonic stem cells can turn into any kind of plant or animal cell. In therapeutic cloning they are not rejected because they are undifferentiated." Find the two errors and correct them.

⚠ Watch out

Treating all stem cells as the same. They share being undifferentiated, but their range differs: meristem tissue, any type of plant cell throughout the plant's life; embryonic stem cells, most types of human cells; adult bone marrow stem cells, many types including blood cells.

🧠

Memory hook

Any, Most, Many: meristem makes ANY plant cell for life, embryos make MOST human cells, marrow makes MANY, including blood.

✓

Check yourself

Without looking back: give both parts of the definition of a stem cell, match each source to the range of cells it can form, and explain why cells from therapeutic cloning are not rejected.

Flashcards

(11)
What is a stem cell?
An undifferentiated cell that can give rise to many more cells of the same type, and from which certain other cells can arise by differentiation.
What can stem cells from human embryos be made to do?
They can be cloned and made to differentiate into most different types of human cells.
What can stem cells from adult bone marrow form?
Many types of cells, including blood cells.
What can meristem tissue in plants differentiate into, and for how long?
Any type of plant cell, throughout the life of the plant.
Name two conditions that treatment with stem cells may be able to help.
Diabetes and paralysis.
In therapeutic cloning, what is produced, and why are its stem cells not rejected?
An embryo with the same genes as the patient, so the patient's body does not reject its stem cells.
Give a potential risk of using stem cells.
Transfer of viral infection.
Apart from the risks, why do some people oppose the use of stem cells?
Some people have ethical or religious objections.
Give two advantages of producing clones of plants from meristems.
It is quick and economical.
Why might a rare plant species be cloned?
To protect it from extinction.
Why clone a crop plant with a special feature such as disease resistance?
To produce large numbers of identical plants with that feature for farmers.

Tap any card to flip it, or use Study as deck to go through them one at a time. In the full lesson these run as a spaced-repetition deck — you rate each card Hard, Good or Easy and the tricky ones keep coming back until they stick.

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