Cell Specialization and Stem Cells Quiz

What are stem cells?

• Undifferentiated cells that can become other cells in the body

• Cells that are only found in bone marrow

• Cells that have already specialized

• Cells that are only found in developing embryos

What is the role of transcription factors in cell differentiation?

• They help the cell divide into two identical cells

• They control the size of the cell

• They regulate which areas of the DNA code will get transcribed into mRNA

• They determine the color of the cell

What is the main issue to consider when using embryonic stem cells for research?

• The risk of organ or tissue rejection

• The ethical issue of the demise of the embryo

• The cost of obtaining the stem cells

• The potential benefits offered in stem cell research

What are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS)?

• Stem cells that can differentiate into any type of body cell

• Stem cells that can only be found in bone marrow

• Stem cells that can only be used for organ transplants

• Stem cells that can only differentiate into blood cells

What is the potential benefit of using a person's own induced pluripotent stem cells for organ or tissue regeneration?

• Decrease the cost of organ/tissue regeneration

• Increase the need for organ donors

• Decrease chances for organ/tissue rejection

• Increase the risk of organ/tissue rejection

What are the internal cues for stem cells in the process of differentiation?

• The specific location of the stem cell within the developing embryo

• Environmental effects like temperature

• Transcription factors present in the cytoplasm of the original starting zygote cell

• Cell signaling from other cells next to it

What is the main function of bone marrow stem cells?

• To produce blood cells

• To produce skin cells

• To produce muscle cells

• To produce nerve cells

What is the significance of somatic stem cells in the body?

• They can only differentiate into a few types of body cells

• They can only be found in developing embryos

• They can be used for organ or tissue regeneration

• They are only present in the bone marrow

What is the potential drawback of using somatic stem cells for organ or tissue regeneration?

• The limited ability to differentiate into other cells

• The cost of obtaining the stem cells

• The risk of organ or tissue rejection

• The ethical issue of the demise of the embryo

Why is there a heavy focus on stem cells in research?

• To increase the risk of organ or tissue rejection

• To decrease the need for organ donors

• To help regenerate organs or tissues damaged from a disease or an accident

• To decrease the potential benefits offered in stem cell research