Stem Cells in Medicine Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

  • Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
  • Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

  • Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
  • Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

  • Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
  • Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

PERSONALISED 1-TO-1 TUTORING

Need more help on this topic? Get 1-to-1 support

Get support with clear explanations, practice and feedback (Ages 5 to 16).

  • DBS-checked tutors
  • Flexible times
  • Parents can be updated

Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to remove ads

What is a stem cell?

A stem cell is an unspecialised cell that can divide to make more stem cells or change into different types of specialised cells.

What does it mean when a stem cell differentiates?

Differentiation is when a stem cell changes to become a specialised cell with a specific job, such as a nerve cell or a muscle cell.

What are the two main types of human stem cells used in medicine?

The two main types are embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells, such as bone marrow stem cells.

Where do embryonic stem cells come from and what is special about them?

Embryonic stem cells come from very early embryos and they can turn into almost any type of cell in the body.

Where do adult stem cells come from and what is one limit of them?

Adult stem cells come from tissues in children and adults, for example from bone marrow, and they can usually only turn into some related types of cells.

How are bone marrow stem cells used to treat some blood cancers like leukaemia?

The patient's damaged bone marrow is removed or destroyed and then replaced with healthy bone marrow stem cells, which make new, normal blood cells.

Give one example of how stem cells might be used to treat diseases in the future.

In the future, stem cells might be used to grow new heart muscle after a heart attack or to make insulin-producing cells to treat diabetes.

What are two main risks of using stem cells in medicine?

The patient's body may reject the new cells, and fast-dividing stem cells might form tumours or carry viruses that cause infection.

Why do some people have ethical concerns about using embryonic stem cells?

Using embryonic stem cells involves destroying very early embryos, and some people think this is wrong because they see the embryo as a potential human life.

What is therapeutic cloning and why could it reduce the risk of rejection?

In therapeutic cloning an embryo is made using the patient's own DNA. Stem cells from this embryo have the same genes as the patient, so the body is less likely to reject them.