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5 (a) The diagram shows new skin tissue produced from stem cells in the skin - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 5 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 5
5 (a) The diagram shows new skin tissue produced from stem cells in the skin. (i) Which part of the blood starts the process of clotting? Put a cross (✗) in the bo... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:5 (a) The diagram shows new skin tissue produced from stem cells in the skin - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 5 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which part of the blood starts the process of clotting?
Answer
The part of the blood that starts the process of clotting is C platelets. Platelets are small cell fragments that play a critical role in hemostasis (the process of stopping bleeding). They aggregate at the site of injury to form a clot.
Step 2
State two differences between adult stem cells and skin cells.
Answer
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Differentiation Potential: Adult stem cells are multipotent, meaning they can differentiate into a limited range of cell types related to their tissue of origin, while skin cells are already differentiated and serve specific functions.
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Location and Source: Adult stem cells are typically found in specific locations within the body, like bone marrow or fat tissue, whereas skin cells are found in the epidermis and are specialized cells that form the outer layer of skin.
Step 3
State one advantage and one disadvantage of using embryonic stem cells in medical research.
Answer
Advantage: Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, which means they can develop into any cell type, providing vast potential for medical treatments and regenerative medicine.
Disadvantage: The use of embryonic stem cells raises ethical concerns, as it involves the destruction of embryos, leading to significant debate over moral and ethical implications.