Stem cell

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/stem-cell

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the related topics?Developmental biology, cell biology, epigenetics, genetics, immunology, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, bioethics
2. What are stem cells and why are they called builders?Stem cells are special cells that can grow into many different kinds of cells in the body, like tiny builders that can become any part of you.
3. How do embryonic stem cells differ from adult stem cells?Embryonic stem cells can become any cell type in the body, while adult stem cells can only become certain types of cells that are needed in the tissues where they live.

Pluripotency: The ability of a stem cell to differentiate into any cell type of the three germ layers.
Multipotency: The ability of a stem cell to differentiate into a limited range of cell types within a specific lineage or tissue.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs): Adult somatic cells that have been reprogrammed to a pluripotent state, similar to embryonic stem cells.
Tissue Niche: A specialized microenvironment that supports the survival and function of stem cells.