Stem cells in animals | Exit Quiz | Oak National Academy

True or false? Embryo cells are unspecialised and can become any type of specialised cell.

• true

• false

Answer explanation

True, the cells of embryos are known as embryonic stem cells as they can differentiate into any type of cell.

Cells that remain unspecialised in an organism are called ___ stem cells.

Answer explanation

Adult stem cells can differentiate into some different types of cell, but not all types like embryonic stem cells.

What can adult stem cells found in bone marrow not differentiate into?

• white blood cells

• nerve cells

• platelets

• red blood cells

Answer explanation

Bone marrow stem cells cannot differentiate into nerve cells. Stem cells that differentiate into nerve cells are found elsewhere in the body such as the brain.

By what process do adult stem cells renew?

Answer explanation

Stem cells renew by dividing by mitosis to produce more cells.

Who is correct?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Sofia is right, once a cell has become specialised it cannot go back to being a stem cell. Andeep is also right, specialised cells that undergo mitosis produce more specialised cells.

What is the name of the process by which cells become specialised?

Answer explanation

Differentiation takes place through the switching on and off of genes.