How can stem cells replace faulty cells in the body?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into various cell types, such as nerve cells, blood cells, and skin cells. By directing the differentiation of stem cells, faulty cells can be replaced with healthy ones, potentially treating or curing diseases and conditions.

Answer: B 
 Stem cells have the ability to mitotically divide, generating more stem cells or fully differentiated cells that can directly replace faulty cells in the body. This replication ability makes stem cells an attractive option for therapies that require large amounts of healthy cells.

Answer: C 
 Meiotic cell division is a type of cell division that produces gametes (sperm or eggs) with half the number of chromosomes. Stem cells do not undergo meiotic division, as they need to maintain the full set of chromosomes to differentiate into different cell types.

Answer: D 
 Faulty cells cannot be coaxed into becoming stem cells. However, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be generated by reprogramming mature cells to become more like embryonic stem cells. These iPSCs can then differentiate into various cell types and potentially replace faulty cells.

Answer: A and B 
 Stem cells can differentiate into specific cell types and mitotically divide to generate more cells that can directly replace faulty ones.

How Can Stem Cells Replace Faulty Cells in the Body