MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems Flashcards: 2c Stem Cells Pluripotency

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 2c Stem Cells Pluripotency, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the potency of a multipotent stem cell?

Answer: Can form multiple related cell types within a specific tissue/lineage. Multipotent cells are tissue-specific, differentiating into various related types within one lineage.

Flashcard 2: What is the potency of an oligopotent stem cell?

Answer: Can form a few closely related cell types within a lineage. Oligopotent cells have narrower potential than multipotent, limited to a few related types in a lineage.

Flashcard 3: Which germ layer primarily gives rise to the nervous system and epidermis?

Answer: Ectoderm. Ectoderm forms external and neural tissues as the outermost germ layer.

Flashcard 4: Identify the potency: a hematopoietic stem cell that forms all blood cell types but not neurons.

Answer: Multipotent. HSCs are multipotent as they produce all blood cells but are restricted to the hematopoietic lineage.

Flashcard 5: What are the three germ layers produced by gastrulation?

Answer: Ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Gastrulation organizes the embryo into germ layers that specify tissue and organ formation.

Flashcard 6: Which germ layer primarily gives rise to muscle, bone, blood, and connective tissue?

Answer: Mesoderm. Mesoderm develops into supportive and circulatory systems as the middle germ layer.

Flashcard 7: Which option best matches the term: stem cell niche?

Answer: Local microenvironment signals that maintain stemness and regulate division. The niche provides extrinsic cues to preserve stem cell identity and control proliferation versus differentiation.

Flashcard 8: What is the primary fate of the trophoblast in early embryonic development?

Answer: Forms extraembryonic tissues, especially much of the placenta. The trophoblast supports embryonic development by forming structures like the placenta for nutrient exchange.

Flashcard 9: Which germ layer primarily gives rise to the epithelial lining of the GI and respiratory tracts?

Answer: Endoderm. Endoderm creates internal linings and organs as the innermost germ layer.

Flashcard 10: Which transcription factors are classically used to generate iPSCs (Yamanaka factors)?

Answer: Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. Yamanaka factors activate pluripotency gene networks to dedifferentiate somatic cells.

Flashcard 11: Which embryonic stage contains the zygote and early blastomeres that are totipotent?

Answer: Pre-implantation cleavage stage (zygote through early blastomeres). Early embryonic cells before compaction retain totipotency, allowing formation of an entire organism.

Flashcard 12: What is the potency of a totipotent cell?

Answer: Can form all embryonic and extraembryonic tissues (entire organism). Totipotent cells have the broadest potential, enabling development of a complete organism including supportive structures.

Flashcard 13: Identify the potency: a cell that can form embryo proper plus placenta and other extraembryonic tissues.

Answer: Totipotent. Totipotency encompasses all embryonic and extraembryonic lineages for complete organism development.

Flashcard 14: What is an embryonic stem cell (ESC) defined by source and potency?

Answer: Pluripotent cell derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst. ESCs are isolated from pre-implantation embryos and retain ability to form all germ layer derivatives.

Flashcard 15: What is the key experimental criterion that demonstrates pluripotency in vitro?

Answer: Differentiation into derivatives of ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In vitro differentiation to all germ layers confirms pluripotent capacity without ethical issues of in vivo tests.

Flashcard 16: What is the embryonic structure from which embryonic stem cells are derived?

Answer: Inner cell mass of the blastocyst. The inner cell mass contains pluripotent cells that give rise to the embryo proper.

Flashcard 17: What is the definition of a stem cell in terms of self-renewal and differentiation?

Answer: A cell that self-renews and can differentiate into specialized cell types. Stem cells maintain populations through self-renewal while producing differentiated progeny to form or repair tissues.

Flashcard 18: What are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)?

Answer: Somatic cells reprogrammed back to a pluripotent state. iPSCs are created by reprogramming to restore pluripotency, mimicking embryonic stem cells.

Flashcard 19: What is an adult (somatic) stem cell defined by typical potency and role?

Answer: Usually multipotent; maintains and repairs specific tissues. Adult stem cells reside in tissues to enable regeneration and homeostasis within specific lineages.

Flashcard 20: Identify the potency: a cell that can form neurons, hepatocytes, and cardiomyocytes but not placenta.

Answer: Pluripotent. Pluripotency allows derivation of diverse somatic cells from all germ layers but excludes extraembryonic tissues.

Flashcard 21: What is asymmetric division in stem cells?

Answer: One daughter remains a stem cell and the other becomes a differentiating cell. Asymmetric division ensures stem cell maintenance while generating committed progenitors for tissue needs.

Flashcard 22: What is the potency of a unipotent stem/progenitor cell?

Answer: Can form one cell type while retaining self-renewal capacity. Unipotent cells self-renew but are restricted to producing only one differentiated cell type.

Flashcard 23: What is the definition of potency in stem cell biology?

Answer: The range of cell types a stem cell can generate. Potency classifies stem cells based on their differentiation potential, from totipotent to unipotent.

Flashcard 24: What is a progenitor cell in terms of self-renewal compared with a stem cell?

Answer: More lineage-restricted with limited self-renewal capacity. Progenitors are committed precursors with finite divisions, bridging stem cells and differentiated cells.

Flashcard 25: What is the potency of a pluripotent cell?

Answer: Can form all three germ layers but not extraembryonic tissues. Pluripotent cells generate all body cell types from the three germ layers but cannot form extraembryonic structures.