4.1.2.3 Stem Cells

• divide to produce lord more undifferentiated cells • differentiate into different types of cells depending on instructions given

• early human embryos • bone marrow

• they have the potential to turn into any kind of cell

• grown in a lab to produce clones • made to differentiate into specialised cells

• medicine • research

• curing diseases • stem cells from bone barrow can replace faulty blood cells

• replace faulty cells in sick people • insulin-producing cells for those with diabetes • nerve cells for people who are paralysed

• en embryo that could be made to have the same DNA as patient • means stem cells produced would also contain same genes • this means the body won’t reject them

• stem cells grown in labs may become contaminated and pass it on

• human embryos are a potential human life • they believe scientists should develop other sources of stem cells so they wouldn’t have to use embryos • in some countries it is banned, in the UK you have to follow strict guidelines

• curing suffering patients is more important than rights of an embryo • embryos used are usually unwanted ones from fertility clinics which would’ve been destroyed

• meristems (where growth occurs)

• cells differentiate into any type of plant cell

• to produce clones of whole plants quickly and cheaply • to grow more plants of rare species • to grow crops of identical plants that have desired features for farmers