The document discusses the specialization of cells, explaining that differentiated cells have specific functions while stem cells are undifferentiated and can develop into various specialized cells. It highlights the importance of stem cells in medical research for treating diseases and repairing damaged cells, as well as the ethical considerations surrounding embryonic stem cell harvesting. Additionally, it outlines the organization of cells into tissues, organs, and systems within multicellular organisms.
The document discusses the specialization of cells, explaining that differentiated cells have specific functions while stem cells are undifferentiated and can develop into various specialized cells. It highlights the importance of stem cells in medical research for treating diseases and repairing damaged cells, as well as the ethical considerations surrounding embryonic stem cell harvesting. Additionally, it outlines the organization of cells into tissues, organs, and systems within multicellular organisms.
The document discusses the specialization of cells, explaining that differentiated cells have specific functions while stem cells are undifferentiated and can develop into various specialized cells. It highlights the importance of stem cells in medical research for treating diseases and repairing damaged cells, as well as the ethical considerations surrounding embryonic stem cell harvesting. Additionally, it outlines the organization of cells into tissues, organs, and systems within multicellular organisms.
The document discusses the specialization of cells, explaining that differentiated cells have specific functions while stem cells are undifferentiated and can develop into various specialized cells. It highlights the importance of stem cells in medical research for treating diseases and repairing damaged cells, as well as the ethical considerations surrounding embryonic stem cell harvesting. Additionally, it outlines the organization of cells into tissues, organs, and systems within multicellular organisms.
9 Presented by S Coetzee Cells in tissue, organs and systems:
Your body contains a great number of specialised cells, meaning they have a specific function. They have differences in their structures allowing them to have different functions. We say that these cells have differentiated.
For example:
Specialised cell Function
Differentiated cells Muscle cell Muscle cells can contract and relax allowing the body to move.
Red blood cell Red blood cells transport oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body.
What is a stem cell?
Stem cells are unspecialised/ undifferentiated cells which do not have a specific function yet. They can divide and develop into many different types of specialised cells. We can collect these cells from a developing embryo, or from the placenta and bone marrow of adults etc.
Why are stem cells so important?
Scientists are learning how to use stem cells and how to develop them into specialised cells. They hope to change stem cells into specialised cells to treat certain diseases and conditions (Diabetes and cancer). We can also use these cells to try and repair damaged cells like nerve cells.
Natural Science Cells as the basic unit of life All Rights Reserved Microscopic vs Macroscopic organisms:
An organism that is single cell is called unicellular organisms. They can
only be seen with the help of a microscope (microscopic) like bacteria.
Multicellular organisms are organisms made of many cells. These
organisms are visible to the naked eye (macroscopic) like ants.
Organisation of cells in macroscopic organisms:
Specialised cells that perform a specific function, group together
to form a tissue. For example, muscle cells will group together to form muscle tissue, epithelial cells will group together to form the skin, and nerve cells will group together to form the brain and nerves.
Groups of tissues that work together form organs. Think of the stomach for example - it is made of many different specialised cells that form muscle tissue to make it contract and epithelial tissue (made from specialised epithelial cells) which lines the inside of the stomach and produces mucus.
When organs work together we say they form systems or organ systems. There are many different systems in your body where specific organs work closely together to make your body function like the cardiovascular system. All the systems work together to form an organism.
Natural Science Cells as the basic unit of life All Rights Reserved EXERCISE 1- Cells in tissues, organs & systems 1. What does the term ‘cell division” mean? 2. What is the name for the process in which cells become different to do different jobs? 3. In the block below are the names of different living things. Decide in which row does each of them belong to. Write the name of the structure in the appropriate row.
Heart tree red blood cell chicken egg
chloroplast lady bug muscle flower frog epidermis gamete kidney digestive system
Organelle Cell Tissue Organ Organ system Organism
Homework activity: cells in tissues, organs & systems
Read the following extract on stem cells and answer the given questions.
Stem cells are very special cells. Embryonic cells are a type of stem cell. The stem cells found in embryos can divide indefinitely, can specialize into any cell type and are called embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells can divide indefinitely, and generate all the cell types of the organ from which they originate. They can potentially re-grow the entire organ from just a few cells. A third type of stem cell is found in blood from the umbilical cord of a new-born baby, and the placenta. These “cord blood stem cells” are considered to be adult stem cells because they cannot generate all body cell types, just different types of blood cells. Stem cells are of great interest to researchers because of their ability to divide indefinitely, and to differentiate into many cell types. Stem cells have many existing or potential therapeutic applications. Such therapies include treatments for cancer, blood disorders, brain or spinal cord injuries, and blindness.
Embryonic stem cells are taken from an ovum that is fertilized in the laboratory and donated to research. They may have the greatest potential. However, embryonic stem cells harvested from a donated embryo differ from a potential patient’s tissue type. Therefore, just as in organ transplantation, there is a risk of a patient’s body rejecting transplanted embryonic stem cells.
Natural Science Cells as the basic unit of life All Rights Reserved Some individuals and groups have objections to the harvesting of embryonic stem cells, because harvesting the stem cells involves the destruction of the embryo. Some researchers are looking into methods to extract embryonic stem cells without destroying the actual embryo. Other researchers have claimed success in harvesting embryonic stem cells from the embryonic fluid that surrounds a growing fetus.
Adult stem cells, including cord blood stem cells, have already been used to treat diseases of the blood such as sickle-cell anemia and certain types of cancer. Unlike embryonic stem cells, the use of adult stem cells in research and therapy is not controversial because the production of adult stem cells does not require the destruction of an embryo. Adult stem cells can be isolated from a tissue sample, such as bone marrow, from a person. Scientists have recently discovered more sources of adult stem cells in the body. Adult stem cells have been found in body fat, the inside lining of the nose, and in the brain.
1. What is the definition of a stem cell?
2. What is the main difference between embryonic and adult stem cells? 3. Name two ways in which researchers could harvest embryonic stem cells without destroying the actual embryo. 4. Name one source of adult stem cells in the human body. 5. Suggest why you think some people will be against the harvesting of embryonic stem cells. 6. Suggest why is stem cell research so important?
Natural Science Cells as the basic unit of life All Rights Reserved
