Year 10 - Science
Stem cells in animals
Stem cells and differentiation
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores the function of stem cells and the importance of cell differentiation. It discusses the benefits and risks of stem cell use in medicine, evaluates applications of science, and considers the personal, social, economic, and environmental implications of scientific decisions.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain what stem cells are, and give examples of where they are found in animals.
Key Notes
- An early animal embryo is made of unspecialised cells; these are embryonic stem cells.
- Embryonic stem cells can differentiate to become all types of cells in the animal's body.
- As an animal develops into an adult, some cells remain unspecialised; these are adult stem cells.
- Adult stem cells can differentiate to become most but not all types of cells in the animal's body.
- An example of adult stem cells in humans (e.g. in bone marrow; these can divide and differentiate to make blood cells).
Vocabulary To Learn
- embryo: Formed from a zygote by cell division; it is the early stages of development.
- unspecialised cell: A cell with no specific function, but has the capability to turn into different types of cells.
- embryonic stem cell: A cell from an embryo which can differentiate into any type of cell.
- differentiation: The process of an unspecialised cell becoming specialised through the mechanism of turning genes on and off.
- adult stem cell: Can differentiate into related cells.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Adult stem cells don't exist or can differentiate in the same way as embryonic stem cells.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
An early animal embryo is made of unspecialised cells; these are embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells can differentiate to become all types of cells in the animal's body.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'embryo'
Formed from a zygote by cell division; it is the early stages of development. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Adult stem cells don't exist or can differentiate in the same way as embryonic stem cells. Correction: Give examples of adult stem cells and the types of cells they will differentiate into, using examples that pupils might be familiar with.
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