16: How Cells Become Specialized

What is the primary focus of the video?

• The anatomy of the human brain

• The process of photosynthesis

• How cells become specialized

• The structure of DNA

What is a zygote?

• A type of specialized cell

• A type of neuron

• A type of stem cell

• A fertilized egg cell

What is the significance of the blastocyst stage?

• It marks the beginning of mitosis

• It contains stem cells that are not yet specialized

• It is the final stage of cell division

• It is when cells start to die

What role do transcription factors play in cell differentiation?

• They replicate DNA

• They determine which areas of DNA will be transcribed into mRNA

• They destroy unnecessary DNA

• They transport nutrients to cells

What are somatic stem cells?

• Cells that cannot differentiate

• Stem cells found in various tissues of the body

• Stem cells found only in embryos

• Cells that are always specialized

What is the purpose of bone marrow transplants?

• To regenerate different types of blood cells

• To replace damaged neurons

• To improve skin elasticity

• To repair muscle tissue

What is a major ethical issue with embryonic stem cell research?

• It causes severe side effects

• It results in the demise of the embryo

• It is too expensive

• It is not effective

What is the potential benefit of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS)?

• They do not require any ethical considerations

• They are easier to extract than other stem cells

• They can differentiate into tissues or organs needed by the person

• They can only become skin cells

What is one potential risk of using stem cells from a donor?

• The cells may not survive the transplant

• The cells may not differentiate

• The organ or tissue may be rejected by the recipient's body

• The cells may cause cancer

Why is it important to stay updated on stem cell research?

• To find out about new diseases

• To understand the advancements in the potential uses of stem cells

• To learn about the history of stem cells

• To learn about new types of cells