Stem Cells

What are the three key characteristics that define stem cells?

Undifferentiated, ability to give rise to specialized cells, and ability to divide to produce more stem cells

What is the term used to describe the ability of stem cells to differentiate into more specialized cell types?

Potency

What are the three types of stem cells, and how do they differ in terms of potency?

Totipotent, pluripotent, and multipotent cells, with totipotent cells being the most potent and multipotent cells being the least potent

What is the primary source of embryonic stem cells, and how are they obtained?

Early embryos created in a laboratory using IVF, obtained from 4-5 day old embryos Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of adult stem cells, and how are they obtained?

Body tissues of an adult, obtained via a simple operation from bone marrow Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of stem cells in medicine, and what diseases can they be used to treat?

Replace damaged tissues and cells, and treat diseases such as diabetes and paralysis Signup and view all the answers

What are the two potencies that embryonic stem cells can exhibit, and what is the difference between them?

Totipotent and pluripotent, with totipotent cells being able to differentiate into all cell types and pluripotent cells being able to differentiate into most cell types Signup and view all the answers

What are the benefits of using stem cells in medicine, and what are the risks associated with their use?

Benefits: treat a variety of diseases, reduce risk of organ rejection; Risks: infection, cancer, low number of donors, expensive, immunosuppressive drugs Signup and view all the answers

What are the ethical issues associated with the use of embryonic stem cells, and how do they differ from adult stem cells?

Killing of embryos, creation of embryos for therapy, destroying them in the process; adult stem cells have fewer ethical issues Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of educating the public about stem cells, and what are the social implications of their use?

Public education about what stem cells can and cannot do is important, and social implications include the lack of peer-reviewed clinical evidence and expensive storage of stem cells Signup and view all the answers

At what stage of its development should an embryo be regarded as, and treated as, a person?

When the embryo is viewed as having the potential to develop into a person. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Hayflick limit, and why is it relevant to stem cell research?

The Hayflick limit is the number of times a normal somatic cell population will divide before cell division stops, and it's relevant because stem cells have no Hayflick limit. Signup and view all the answers

What are the reasons for regulating authorities in human embryo research?

To stop human cloning, decide on the maximum age of embryos for research, ensure researchers follow a code of practice, set ethical and legal standards, and prevent unnecessary repetition of research. Signup and view all the answers

What are the advantages of using stem cells from the patient instead of a donor?

No risk of rejection, no need for immunosuppressants, less risk of infection, and the cells are genetically identical to the patient. Signup and view all the answers

Why is embryonic stem cell therapy the most controversial?

It leads to the destruction of embryos, which have the potential to become human life, and raises religious and ethical objections. Signup and view all the answers

How do stem cells decrease with age?

The number of stem cells generally decreases with age. Signup and view all the answers

How can stem cells from a healthy donor provide treatment for a disorder?

Stem cells from a donor can differentiate into healthy cells, replacing those affected by the disorder, and produce the desired protein. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'ource of stem cell' in research?

The source of stem cells is crucial in determining the ethical and legal implications of research. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it essential to regulate the age of embryos used in research?

To ensure that embryos are not used beyond a certain stage of development, thus respecting their moral and ethical significance. Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using autologous stem cells in therapy?

The risk of rejection is eliminated, and the need for immunosuppressants is avoided. Signup and view all the answers