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GCSEBiologyEdexcelRevision Notes2. Cells & ControlStem CellsAnimal Stem Cells

Animal Stem Cells (Edexcel GCSE Biology)

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Ruth Brindle

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Animal Stem Cells

  • A stem cell is an undifferentiated cell that is capable of dividing to produce many more cells of the same type

  • Stem cells can give rise to other cell types by the process of differentiation

  • In animals there are several different types of stem cell

    • Embryonic stem cells are important as they help to form all of the different tissues and organs needed during development to form a whole new individual

      • Cells in the very early embryo can differentiate to become any other type of body cell

    • Adult stem cells , however, are much more limited and can only differentiate to produce a few different cell types.

      • Adult stem cells are predominantly used to replace cells lost through damage or to produce new cells for growth – although the bone marrow has to continually make new blood cells throughout life

Animal Stem Cells Table

Animal stem cells, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes


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    Ruth Brindle

    Author: Ruth Brindle

    Expertise: Biology

    Ruth graduated from Sheffield University with a degree in Biology and went on to teach Science in London whilst also completing an MA in innovation in Education. With 10 years of teaching experience across the 3 key science disciplines, Ruth decided to set up a tutoring business to support students in her local area. Ruth has worked with several exam boards and loves to use her experience to produce educational materials which make the mark schemes accessible to all students.