What is Stem Cell?

What is a stem cell?

‎A1: A stem cell can divide and recreate itself and can also differentiate into specialized cell types.

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‎Q2: What does “self-renewal” mean in stem cells?

‎A2: The ability of a stem cell to produce an exact replica of itself.

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‎Q3: What is “potency” in context of stem cells?

‎A3: The ability of a stem cell to generate different types of differentiated cells.

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‎Q4: Why are stem cells called “undifferentiated”?

‎A4: Because they have not yet specialized and retain proliferative potential.

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‎Q5: What is the difference between pluripotent and multipotent stem cells?

‎A5: Pluripotent can form almost any cell type, while multipotent can form only limited types.

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‎Q6: Give an example of a pluripotent stem cell.

‎A6: Embryonic stem cells.

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‎Q7: Where are multipotent stem cells usually found?

‎A7: In adult tissues like bone marrow, brain, etc.

‎Q: All the cells in our body descend from which type of cells?

‎A: Stem cells

‎‎Q: What is the nature of stem cells in terms of differentiation?

‎A: Stem cells are undifferentiated.

‎Q: What two abilities make stem cells unique?

‎A: Ability to replicate indefinitely and differentiate into specialized cells.

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‎Q: What does totipotent mean?

‎A: Can differentiate into any mature cell type.

‎Q: What does pluripotent mean?

‎A: Can differentiate into many (but not all) mature cell types.

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‎Q: What is true about fully differentiated cells?

‎A: They cannot replicate or undergo transformations into other types.

Q1: What is the potency of a zygote?

A: Totipotent

Q2: Which stem cells are derived from the Inner Cell Mass (ICM)?

 A: Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs)

Q3: Embryonic stem cells are capable of forming what?

 A: Almost any cell type in the embryo (e.g., blood, heart, muscles)

Q4: Which genes maintain pluripotency in embryonic stem cells?

A: SOX2, Nanog

Q5: Where are adult stem cells found?

 A: In mature organ tissues (tissue-specific)

Q6: What is the role of adult stem cells?

A: Replacing and repairing tissue

Q7: Adult stem cells can be of which types?

A: Multipotent or Unipotent

Q8: Give an example of unipotent adult stem cells.

 A: Epidermal stem cells

Q9: What are the transcription factors used to induce pluripotency in adult cells?

A: Oct3/4, Sox2, c-Myc, Klf4

Q10: What is the lineage flow of adult stem cells?

A: Multipotent → Committed → Progenitor (transit amplifying) → Differentiated cells

Q11: Which cell type is more restricted in its differentiation capacity: Multipoten

t or Committed?

A: Committed Stem Cell

📒 Stem Cells Flashcard Style Notes

🔹 Page 1: Questions

1. What is the potency of a zygote?

2. Which stem cells are derived from the Inner Cell Mass (ICM)?

3. Embryonic stem cells are capable of forming what?

4. Which genes maintain pluripotency in ESCs?

5. Where are adult stem cells found?

6. What is the role of adult stem cells?

7. What types of potency can adult stem cells have?

8. Give one example of unipotent adult stem cells.

9. Name the transcription factors that induce pluripotency.

10. What is the lineage sequence of adult stem cells?

11. Which is more restricted in differentiation — Multipotent or Committed?

Answers

1. Totipotent

2. Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs)

3. Almost any type of cell in the embryo (e.g., blood, heart, muscles)

4. SOX2, Nanog

5. Tissues of mature organs (called tissue-specific stem cells)

6. Replacing and repairing tissue of that organ

7. Multipotent or Unipotent

8. Epidermal stem cells

9. Oct3/4, Sox2, c-Myc, Klf4

10. Multipotent → Committed → Progenitor (Transit-Amplifying) → Differentiated

11. Committed stem cell is more restricted.

Questions (Stem Cell Division)

1. What is asymmetric cell division in stem cells?

2. What is meant by single-cell asymmetry?

3. What is population asymmetry?

4. What happens to the stem cell pool during symmetric division?

5. What is the fundamental property of stem cells?

6. How does symmetrical differentiation affect stem cell population?

📄 Page 2: Answers (Stem Cell Division)

1. Asymmetric cell division is when a stem cell divides to form one identical stem cell (self-renewal) and one committed cell (differentiation).

2. Single-cell asymmetry: One stem cell divides to give one stem cell + one committed cell.

3. Population asymmetry: Within a population of stem cells, some divide to form two stem cells (increase pool), and others form two committed cells (decrease pool).

4. In symmetric division, the pool can increase (2 stem cells) or decrease (2 committed cells).

5. The fundamental property is to self-renew while also generating differentiated cells.

6. Symmetrical differentiation decreases the stem cell pool (both daughter cells are committed).

Questions (Cell Differentiation)

1. What is cell differentiation?

2. What happens to the cell during differentiation?

3. What changes occur in a cell when it differentiates?

4. Give an example of differentiated cells.

5. What does it mean when a cell "commits" to a fate?

📄 Page 2: Answers (Cell Differentiation)

1. Differentiation is the process where a cell becomes specialized into a specific type with unique traits.

2. The cell stops dividing and starts developing specialized structural and functional features.

3. Changes include protein composition, structure, and function unique to the cell type.

4. Example: A red blood cell vs. a neuron – completely different in structure and function.

5. "Commitment" means the cell has chosen a specific developmental pathway and will not revert.