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please help biology worksheet on stem cells

Can anybody please explain the following questions, i seriously dont understand them:

1 . Distinguish between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells with respect to their potency and their potential applications in medical technologies.

2. describe one potential advantage of using embryonic stem cells for tissue engineering technology.

3.what is a germ line??

please anyone??!

:frown:
Do you mean you don't understand what the question is asking you for, or the actual topic?

If you don't understand the question:

Number 1 is asking you to explain the differences between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells which would affect how much potential they have to be useful and what are their potential uses in medicine and medical research?

Number 2 is asking you to say one reason why embryonic stem cells are good for use in artificially making body tissue.

And number 3 is just asking you to explain what a germ line is.

If you don't understand the topic:

Well, first off you need to know what embryonic and adult stem cells are. Embryonic stem cells are stem cells taken from an embryo, usually made via in vitro fertilization. Embryonic stem cells have not undergone differentiation, the process where a cell becomes specialized for a specific role. Because of this we know that they have the potential to become any cell, this makes them interesting to doctors and medical researchers because they have the potential to be used to create anything you need. Heart muscles and insulin producing cells, though there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of controlling stem cell differentiation to make certain things.

Adult stem cells on the other hand are only found in certain parts of the body (e.g. bone marrow) and only have the potential to become certain cells. They are already used in medical research to cure disease, such as making new blood cells for people whose own are not working properly. This is done via bone marrow transplants.

So, what can you derive from that in terms of their potency and usefulness?

Also, a germ line is the line of germ cells which have genetic material which is passed to a child, though you might want to do research to broaden your answer for this one.

I'm an AS biology student, but most of this is from GCSE, and remember that biology is all about getting as much information into your answer as possible, so maybe do some extra research? Hope this helps :smile:

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