Lesson 5 - Stem cells
Single cells that can
Replicate themselves
Differentiate into many cell types
Place they are found
Humans
Plants
Embryos
Some organs (adult stem cells)
Umbilical cord stem cells
Meristems (at the tips of growing shoots and roots)
Contain unspecialised stem cells that can differentiate into any type of cells
Partly specialised
Can only differentiate into cells from the type of tissue they are in
Partly specialised
Can only differentiate into different blood cells
Used in medicine
treat medical conditions or diseases by replacing cells that are destroyed or damaged
Tested on to see how new medicine affect body and treat diseases
Therapeutic cloning
Creating stem cells for a patient that needs treatment for a condition or disease