Quick revision: every question with its correct answer. For the full explanation, open the relevant test and tap View Solution.
7.1 Stem Cells — Test 1
Q1. Stem cells are defined by two key properties:✓ Self-renewal and the ability to differentiate into other cell types
Q2. A totipotent cell is one that can form:✓ The entire organism plus the extra-embryonic tissues
Q3. Pluripotent stem cells (e.g. embryonic stem cells) can form:✓ All cell types of the body (the three germ layers), but not the placenta
Q4. Embryonic stem (ES) cells are derived from the:✓ Inner cell mass of the blastocyst
Q5. A multipotent stem cell, such as a haematopoietic stem cell, can form:✓ A limited range of related cell types (e.g. all blood cells)
Q6. The pluripotency of embryonic stem cells is maintained by a core trio of transcription factors:✓ Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog
Q7. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are made by:✓ Reprogramming adult somatic cells with defined transcription factors
Q8. The Yamanaka factors used to generate iPS cells are:✓ Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc
Q9. Adult (tissue) stem cells function mainly to:✓ Replace cells lost to turnover or injury in their tissue
Q10. The local microenvironment that maintains stem cells is called the:✓ Stem-cell niche
Q11. Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside mainly in the:✓ Bone marrow
Q12. Asymmetric division of a stem cell typically produces:✓ One stem cell and one differentiating daughter
7.1 Stem Cells — Test 2
Q13. A key promise of iPS cell technology in medicine is:✓ Patient-specific cells for disease modelling and potential transplantation
Q14. Embryonic stem cells are tested for pluripotency by their ability to form a:✓ Teratoma containing all three germ layers
Q15. Differentiation of a stem cell generally involves:✓ Selective gene expression that progressively restricts cell fate
Q16. The main difference between a normal cell and a transformed (cancer) cell includes:✓ Immortality and loss of contact inhibition
Q17. Cancer stem cells are thought to be important because they:✓ Can self-renew and regenerate a tumour after treatment
Q18. Mesenchymal stem cells (e.g. from bone marrow) can differentiate into:✓ Bone, cartilage and fat cells
Q19. Therapeutic cloning (somatic-cell nuclear transfer) aims to:✓ Generate patient-matched pluripotent cells for therapy
Q20. Compared with adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells are generally:✓ More potent (pluripotent) but raise more ethical concerns
Q21. Stem cells maintain tissue homeostasis by balancing:✓ Self-renewal against differentiation
Q22. The potency of cells generally ____ as development proceeds.✓ Decreases (becomes more restricted)
Q23. A unipotent stem cell can produce:✓ Only one cell type (but can still self-renew)
Q24. Stem-cell research is important for regenerative medicine because stem cells could:✓ Replace damaged tissues and cells in disease or injury