Cellular Differentiation and Stem Cells Quiz

Cell Biology

• The site of protein synthesis in the cell is the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER).
• One of the main functions of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is to synthesize lipids, detoxify drugs, and regulate calcium levels.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

• The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) gets its bumpy appearance due to the presence of ribosomes attached to its surface.
• Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) lacks ribosomes.

Cell Cycle

• The phase of the cell cycle characterized by the division of genetic material and the formation of two new nuclei is mitosis.
• The phase where the cell prepares for and completes cell division is the M phase.
• The period of the cell cycle during which the cell is not dividing is called interphase.
• The phase that involves dividing the cytoplasm into two distinctive cells is cytokinesis.
• The G2 phase follows the G1 phase for cells that will divide again.

Cellular Differentiation and Stem Cells

• Cellular differentiation is the process by which cells become specialized to perform specific functions.
• Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to differentiate into specialized cells.
• Totipotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate into a complete organism.
• Stem cells differ from specialized cells in their ability to differentiate into multiple cell types.
• Disruption of homeostatic balance in cell division can lead to cancer or other diseases.

Types of Stem Cells

• Embryonic stem cells are extracted from embryos and are pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into any cell type.
• Adult stem cells are limited in their differentiation to the types of cells found in specific tissues, such as bone marrow and skin.
• Stem cells obtained from deciduous teeth (baby teeth) are classified as mesenchymal stem cells.
• Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are genetically reprogrammed adult cells that function like embryonic stem cells.

Gene Expression Regulation

• The primary mechanism by which genes are turned 'on' or 'off' is through the binding of transcription factors to specific genes on the DNA molecule.
• Transcription factors affect the binding of RNA polymerase to specific genes on the DNA molecule, regulating gene expression.
• The main goal of stem cell research is to understand how to control cellular differentiation for therapeutic purposes.

Cellular Aging

• Most adult cells lose their ability to divide over time due to aging.

Gene Regulation

• Transcription factors play a crucial role in regulating gene expression by binding to specific genes on the DNA molecule.