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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of skin cells in the body?
What is the primary function of skin cells in the body?
- To provide protection from the external environment (correct)
- To store fat molecules
- To conduct electrical impulses
- To carry oxygen and carbon dioxide
Which type of stem cell can differentiate into any kind of cell?
Which type of stem cell can differentiate into any kind of cell?
- Tissue stem cells
- Bone marrow stem cells
- Adult stem cells
- Embryonic stem cells (correct)
What characteristic distinguishes cardiac muscle cells from skeletal muscle cells?
What characteristic distinguishes cardiac muscle cells from skeletal muscle cells?
- Skeletal muscle cells have large vacuoles
- Skeletal muscle cells can conduct electrical impulses
- Cardiac cells contract only when stimulated by a nerve impulse
- Cardiac cells do not need continuous stimulation to beat (correct)
What is a key role of red blood cells in the body?
What is a key role of red blood cells in the body?
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In which way are white blood cells primarily involved in the body’s defense?
In which way are white blood cells primarily involved in the body’s defense?
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What is a distinguishing feature of nerve cells (neurons)?
What is a distinguishing feature of nerve cells (neurons)?
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How do tissue stem cells differ from embryonic stem cells?
How do tissue stem cells differ from embryonic stem cells?
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Which function is NOT performed by fat cells?
Which function is NOT performed by fat cells?
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Study Notes
Specialized cells
- A specialized cell performs a specific function within an organism
- Each specialized cell has certain genes turned "on" and others "off"
- This allows for specialized cells to perform specific tasks
Examples of Specialized Cells
- Skin cells provide protection from the external environment and reduce water loss
- Bone cells collect calcium from food and allow for the growth and repair of bones
- Fat cells have large vacuoles to store fat molecules, a form of chemical energy
- Skeletal muscle cells are arranged in bundles called muscle fibers, which contract and relax to move bones
- Cardiac muscle cells beat continuously on their own, synchronizing contractions and conducting electrical impulses
- Red blood cells carry oxygen and carbon dioxide around the body
- White blood cells are ameoboid cells that engulf bacteria and fight infection
- Sperm cells have flagella to help them swim outside the body, carrying male DNA to join with female DNA (egg)
- Nerve cells (neurons) are long, thin, and branched, and conduct electrical impulses to coordinate body activity
Stem Cells
- A stem cell is an undifferentiated cell that can divide to form specialized cells
- Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into any kind of cell
- Tissue stem cells are adult cells existing within specialized tissues, and can only differentiate into certain types of cells
- For example, bone marrow cells can differentiate into white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets
Stem Cell Uses
- Stem cells are used in the field of regenerative medicine
- Cord blood banking stores stem cells for potential later use
- Stem cells also have ethical implications
- Research and use of embryonic stem cells has generated ethical and moral debates
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