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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of adult stem cells?
Which type of stem cells are obtained from a blastocyst stage of development?
What is the characteristic of adult stem cells that is different from embryonic stem cells?
What is the process of converting adult cells into stem cells with similar properties to embryonic stem cells?
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What is the term used to describe stem cells that are present in specific tissues throughout the body?
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Where have scientists found stem cells in the body?
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What is the primary function of the trophectoderm in embryonic development?
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What is the characteristic that allows embryonic stem cells to form any cell of the organism?
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What is the source of mesenchymal stem cells?
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What is the purpose of fertilizing several eggs in a test tube during in vitro fertilization?
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What is the current potential application of mesenchymal stem cells?
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What is the requirement for donating stem cells from embryos?
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What type of stem cells are bronchoalveolar duct junction cells in the lungs?
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What is the main difference between embryonic stem cells and totipotent stem cells?
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What is the primary goal of regenerative medicine in relation to stem cells?
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Which type of stem cells can only produce cells of one kind, which is their own type?
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What is the potential benefit of stem cell therapy for people with spinal cord injuries?
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What is the characteristic of mesenchymal stem cells?
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Study Notes
Embryonic Stem Cells
- A blastocyst is composed of two distinct cell types: the inner cell mass and the trophectoderm.
- The inner cell mass develops into epiblasts and induces the development of a fetus.
- The trophectoderm forms the extraembryonic support structures needed for the successful origin of the embryo, such as the placenta.
- Human embryonic stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass.
- The pluripotency of stem cells allows them to form any cell of the organism.
Sources of Stem Cells
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) come from the connective tissue or stroma that surrounds the body’s organs and other tissues.
- MSCs can differentiate into bone, cartilage, and fat cells.
- Adult hematopoietic stem cells can become red and white blood cells or platelets.
Types of Stem Cells
- Oligopotent stem cells can self-renew and form 2 lineages within a specific tissue.
- Unipotent stem cells can only produce cells of one kind, which is their own type.
- Embryonic stem cells are considered pluripotent instead of totipotent because they cannot become part of the extra-embryonic membranes or the placenta.
Importance of Stem Cells
- Stem cells can increase understanding of how diseases occur.
- Stem cells can generate healthy cells to replace cells affected by disease (regenerative medicine).
- People who might benefit from stem cell therapies include those with spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and more.
- Stem cells can be used to test new drugs for safety and effectiveness.
Adult Stem Cells
- A person’s body contains stem cells throughout their life.
- Adult stem cells are also called tissue-specific or somatic stem cells.
- They are in a non-specific state, but they are more specialized than embryonic stem cells.
- The function of these cells is to enable the healing, growth, and replacement of cells that are lost each day.
- Adult stem cells have a restricted range of differentiation options.
- Stem cells are present inside different types of tissue, including the brain, bone marrow, blood and blood vessels, skeletal muscles, and skin.
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Description
Learn about the composition of blastocysts, including the inner cell mass and trophectoderm, and how they contribute to the development of a fetus. Understand the role of human embryonic stem cells derived from the inner cell mass.
