Stem Cells and Career Development

Questions and Answers

What is the main idea of the analogy given at the beginning of the video?

Stem cells are only found in babies.

Stem cells have the potential to specialize into different cell types, just like babies have the potential for different careers. (correct)

Stem cells can only specialize into one career pathway.

As babies grow, they lose their potential for different careers.

What is the term for the process by which the zygote divides?

Meiosis

Mitosis (correct)

Differentiation

Stimulation

What is the name of the stage of development when the inner cell mass is formed?

Adult stage

Blastocyst stage (correct)

Embryo stage

Zygote stage

What is the term for the ability of stem cells to differentiate into several cell types?

Pluripotency Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the stem cells found in the inner cell mass?

Pluripotent stem cells Signup and view all the answers

How many different cell types can pluripotent stem cells differentiate into?

More than 200 Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the formation of cells into specific types?

Differentiation Signup and view all the answers

What is another term for pluripotent stem cells found in the inner cell mass?

Embryonic stem cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of embryonic stem cells in mammals?

To build the body by differentiating into trillions of specialized cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which stem cells replace damaged or worn out cells?

Regeneration Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between mature skin cells and stem cells?

Mature skin cells are specialized, while stem cells are unspecialized Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of epidermal stem cells in the skin?

To continually divide and replace damaged skin cells Signup and view all the answers

How often are skin cells shed and replaced in the human body?

Every month Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main properties that a stem cell must possess?

The ability to self-renew and the ability to differentiate into more specialized cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the ability of a stem cell to divide and differentiate into more specialized cells?

Potency Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of somatic stem cells?

To replenish tissues that need to be replaced Signup and view all the answers

How many skin cells are shed per hour?

40,000 Signup and view all the answers

What type of stem cell is found in the skin?

Epithelial stem cell Signup and view all the answers

What type of stem cells are found in bone marrow?

Hematopoietic stem cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of hematopoietic stem cells?

To produce blood cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which stem cells divide into a mother cell and a daughter cell?

Obligate asymmetric replication Signup and view all the answers

What type of stem cells can be reprogrammed from specialized somatic cells?

Induced pluripotent stem cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of regenerative medicine?

To repair damaged tissues Signup and view all the answers

What type of stem cells are unipotent?

Epithelial stem cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which stem cells maintain their numbers?

Stochastic differentiation Signup and view all the answers

What type of stem cells give rise to bone cells and cartilage cells?

Mesenchymal stem cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of inducing IPS cells?

To repair damaged tissues Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the ability of stem cells to give rise to multiple types of cells within a specific family?

Multipotency Signup and view all the answers

What is the potential benefit of using IPS cells in organ transplantation?

The avoidance of immune rejection complications since the cells are the patient's own Signup and view all the answers

What is the current status of IPS cells in medical research?

They have helped to create the precursors to a few different human organs in labs Signup and view all the answers

What triggers stem cells to differentiate?

The presence of specific chemical signals in the stem cell's environment Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of proteins in stem cell regulation?

They prevent stem cell differentiation Signup and view all the answers

What is cord blood, and why is it of interest?

It is blood taken from the placenta and umbilical cord after birth, and it contains multipotent stem cells Signup and view all the answers

What was the previous fate of cord blood after a baby's birth?

It was discarded as medical waste Signup and view all the answers

What type of stem cells can be found in cord blood?

Multipotent and sometimes pluripotent stem cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the current interest in cord blood?

Its potential to contain stem cells for research and medicine Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Stem Cells and Their Properties

Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into specialized cell types
There are two main types of stem cells: embryonic and somatic
Embryonic stem cells are found in the inner cell mass of blastocysts and are pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into any cell type in the adult human body
Somatic stem cells are found in adult tissues and are used for repair and replenishment of cells
Stem cells have two main properties: self-renewal and potency
Self-renewal allows stem cells to divide and maintain their undifferentiated state
Potency refers to the ability of stem cells to differentiate into multiple cell types

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem cells are found in the inner cell mass of blastocysts
They are pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into any cell type in the adult human body
They are used to build the body during development

Somatic Stem Cells

Somatic stem cells are found in adult tissues
They are used for repair and replenishment of cells
They are multipotent, meaning they can differentiate into multiple cell types, but only within a specific family
Examples of somatic stem cells include:
- Epithelial stem cells, found in skin, which differentiate into epithelial cells
- Hematopoietic stem cells, found in bone marrow, which differentiate into blood cells

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS Cells)

iPS cells are somatic cells that have been reprogrammed to become pluripotent stem cells
They are created by introducing specific genes into somatic cells, causing them to revert back to a pluripotent state
iPS cells have medicinal implications, such as the potential for regenerative medicine
They can be used to create personalized stem cell lines for individuals

Stem Cell Division and Maintenance

Stem cells undergo obligate asymmetric replication, where they divide into one stem cell and one differentiated daughter cell
They also undergo stochastic differentiation, where one stem cell differentiates and another stem cell divides to replace it
These mechanisms ensure that stem cell numbers remain constant

Applications of Stem Cells

Stem cells are used in medicine to repair damaged tissues and organs
Hematopoietic stem cells are used to treat blood disorders such as leukemia
iPS cells have the potential to be used in regenerative medicine to create personalized organs for transplantation
Cord blood, which contains multipotent stem cells, is being studied for its potential use in medicine

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Description

An analogy is made between the potential of a baby's career paths and the operation of stem cells. Learn how stem cells specialize and commit to certain pathways.