Stem Cells
Questions… What are stem cells? Where are stem cells? Where are stem cells located? What does it mean to be totipotent?
Stem cells Undifferentiated cells Can give rise to MORE stem cells OR – begin pathway to specialized cells Grouped by “potency”: – Totipotency: any kind of cell in the body – Pluripotent: can become ALMOST any kind (just not uterine or placental cells) – Multipotent: produce only certain kinds – Unipotent: produce one type
Where can they be found? Embryo: embryonic stem cells Umbilical cord: “cord blood” Adult stem cells: bone marrow (ex)
Differentiation 2.sci.life.stru.different/cell-differentiation/ 2.sci.life.stru.different/cell-differentiation/ Pathways Cell signaling – the chips represented proteins that SIGNAL changes inside the cells Those proteins turn certain segments of DNA ON or OFF LOCATION seems to make a HUGE difference
Linked to cell division When do cells divide? Why do cells divide? Do all cells have the ability to divide?
Research
Breakthrough…
Video Clips Breakthrough: sn08.sci.life.stru.stemcell2/stem-cells- breakthrough/ Breakthrough: sn08.sci.life.stru.stemcell2/stem-cells- breakthrough/ cells-research.html cells-research.html