Question 1

Which of the following best describes the function of stem cells during embryonic development?

Accepted Answer

They generate different cell types in the body as it develops.

Question 2

What is the correct sequence of events during early development, starting from fertilization?

Accepted Answer

Fertilization, proliferation, differentiation

Question 3

Stem cells are defined by their ability to:

Accepted Answer

Replicate themselves and differentiate into many cell types

Question 4

Which statement about DNA, RNA, and protein expression in different cell types is correct?

Accepted Answer

Different cell types have the same DNA but different RNAs and proteins.

Question 5

Transcription factors play a key role in cell differentiation by:

Accepted Answer

Turning on specific patterns of gene expression in response to environmental cues

Question 6

Arrange the following levels of stem cell potency from highest to lowest: multipotent, totipotent, unipotent, pluripotent.

Accepted Answer

Totipotent \u003e Pluripotent \u003e Multipotent \u003e Unipotent

Question 7

Totipotent cells can give rise to:

Accepted Answer

All cell types including placental cells

Question 8

Why are adult stem cells generally considered less versatile than embryonic stem cells?

Accepted Answer

Adult stem cells are usually multipotent or unipotent, while embryonic stem cells are pluripotent early in development.

Question 9

A patient receives a bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia. This is possible because bone marrow contains:

Accepted Answer

Blood stem cells that can regenerate the blood system

Question 10

Which of the following is a major ethical concern regarding embryonic stem cell research?

Accepted Answer

The source of embryonic stem cells, often leftover embryos from in vitro fertilization

Question 11

Dolly the sheep was cloned using which process?

Accepted Answer

Fusion of a somatic cell nucleus with a denucleated egg cell

Question 12

What does Dolly’s cloning experiment demonstrate about adult cells?

Accepted Answer

Adult cells can be reprogrammed to regain totipotency

Question 13

Which equation best represents the concept of cell proliferation during development?

Accepted Answer

$$N_{t} = N_{0} 	imes 2$$^{n}$$

Question 14

A researcher wants to use stem cells to treat spinal cord injury. Which limitation should they consider?

Accepted Answer

Stem cells might fail to survive or differentiate correctly in the adult body

Question 15

Personalized medicine is important because:

Accepted Answer

Genetic differences affect disease causes, treatment effectiveness, and side effects

Question 16

Which of the following best explains why salamanders can regenerate limbs but humans cannot?

Accepted Answer

Salamanders have adult stem cells with higher potency and regenerative capacity than humans

Question 17

In the context of stem cell therapy, what is a major risk associated with using stem cells?

Accepted Answer

Stem cells may multiply out of control, leading to tumors

Question 18

Which process is used to reprogram adult cells to become pluripotent stem cells?

Accepted Answer

Introduction of specific transcription factors highly expressed in embryonic stem cells

Question 19

A patient’s skin cells are reprogrammed to become neurons in a dish for drug testing. What is a limitation of this approach?

Accepted Answer

Neurons in a dish may not perfectly mimic neurons in the patient’s body

Question 20

Which of the following clinical trials shows promise for stem cell-derived therapies?

Accepted Answer

Stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons for Parkinson’s disease

Stem Cells in Development and Disease: Structure, Function, and Medical Applications

Study Guide - Practice Questions