sTEM cELLS & Cell Differentiation

Learn about stem cells and how cells differentiate to become specialized! Perfect for high school biology.

READ ME to understand how cells become specialized! Cellular differentiation is the process by which a cell becomes a more specialized cell type. Different complex systems of tissues have different kinds of cells.Differentiation dramatically changes a cell's size, shape, metabolic activity, and responsiveness to signals. These changes are largely due to highly-controlled gene expressions (turning a gene on or off). With a few exceptions, cellular differentiation almost never involves a change in the DNA itself. It does involve switching off many genes not needed in a particular tissue. Thus, cells in different tissues may have very different physical characteristics despite having the same genes (sections of DNA that code for a trait).Turning genes on and off allows the cells to produce proteins that are necessary for the changes in the way those cells look and function. For instance, development of the retina pushes the development of the lens and cornea of the eye. The substance secreted by the developing retina can only diffuse a short distance and affect the neighboring cells, which become other parts of the eye. Another example, Genes that code for enzymes involved in detoxification (clearing out molecules that are bad for you) are found in liver cells, but there is no need for them to be expressed in muscle cells or nerve cells. The patterns of gene expression are specific to cell types and are directly responsible for the differences between functions of different cells.How do different cell types decide which genes to turn on or off?This is the result of processes occurring during embryo development. As the embryo begins to divide, the presence of chemicals and hormones starts altering the decisions as to which genes will be turned on or off. As some of the genes in some of the cells turn on, they may code for proteins that slowly diffuse through the developing embryo. Low, medium, and high concentrations of those chemicals are found in different areas of the embryo depending on the distance from the cell that produces that chemical.A cell that is able to differentiate into many functions are known as stem cells. That is why embryonic stem cell research is much more promising than the adult stem cell research. What are genes? HINT: see paragraph 2. sections of DNA that code for a trait your entire genome stages of embryo development stem cells How do cells differentiate to become different kinds of cells?HINT: see paragraph 2 3. different genes turn on by turning on a gene, different proteins are made proteins will promote how the cells look and their functions all of the above none of the above What are stem cells?Hint: see the last paragraph cells that can differentiate into any type of cell cancer cells sections of DNA that code for a trait embryo development I'm Done With Reading! That's fair. That was some heavy text we just read, with lots of new information. Let's take a brain break and watch this video on HOW and WHY cell specialization is so important! [VIDEO] Why are gametes like eggs and sperm considered "highly specialized"? Hint: there are two answers you need to choose here! they have a specific size and shape they have specific sub-structures that allows it to do its function they are weak they form embryos When you've become an adult, where can you find some undifferentiated cells? Bone marrow so it can differentiate into red blood cells muscles nerve cells sperm What makes muscles cells specialized? Hint: there are two right answers here! they have lots of mitochondria for energy and power they can contract they make red blood cells they are not specialized Why are scientists so pressed to get their hands on some stem cells? They can repair damage to cells that can never grow back like nerve cells and brain cells they can be cloned in the laboratory they can specialize into the specific cells that we need ALL OF THE ABOVE! none of the above Match the descriptions with the type of stem cell being described. Embryonic Stem Cells pluriopotent found in the blastocyst unspecialized Adult Stem Cells multipotent creates new tissues specialized