Stem Cell
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A stem cell is a cell which can change to become other types of cells in an organism.
About Stem Cells
- In an embryo stem cells become all the different specialised cells in an animal before it becomes a foetus.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A stem cell is a cell which can become other types of cells in an organism.
About Stem Cells
- Stem cells are undifferentiated cells which have not yet been specialised in an organism.
- Stem cells can be used to treat patients with damage to tissue which the body cannot normally repair. When added to the tissue stem cells can become the same type of specialised cells found in the tissue.
Stem Cells in Animals
- In animals stem cells are divided into two groups; embryonic stem cells which are found in embryos before the cells have begun to specialise and adult stem cells which are found in adults and can only specialise into certain cells such as blood cells.
Stem Cells in Plants
- In plants stem cells are found in the shoot tips and root tips and are usually the only cells which can divide.
- In plants any cell can revert back to being a stem cell. This makes it easy to clone a plant.
Extra Information
References
AQA
- Stem cell, pages 13, 24-5, 30-3, 35, 222, 254, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Stem cell; adult, page 31, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Stem cell; embryonic, pages 30-33, 35, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Stem cells, page 16, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Stem cells, page 19, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Stem cells, pages 22-4, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA
- Stem cells, pages 22-4, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
- Stem cells, pages 28, 30-33, 228-229, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Stem cells, pages 30, 38-40, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Biology, CGP, AQA
- Stem cells, pages 30, 44-46, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA
- Stem cells; in plants, page 40, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Biology, CGP, AQA
- Stem cells; in plants, page 46, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Stem cells, page 22, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Stem cells, page 26, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Stem cells, pages 36-37, 86, GCSE Biology, Pearson, Edexcel
- Stem cells, pages 64-66, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel