Edexcel GCSE Biology

Stem cells

Edexcel GCSE Biology revision on Stem cells. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology 1BI0 specification. This bank has 25 practice questions on this topic.

Sample questions (3 of 25)

Question 1

Which type of cell is capable of differentiating into a limited range of specialised cell types?
- A) Totipotent zygote
- B) Adult stem cell
- C) Embryonic cell
- D) Meristem cell
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Answer: Adult stem cell

Unlike embryonic stem cells which are pluripotent, adult stem cells found in tissues like bone marrow can only differentiate into a limited range of cells related to their tissue of origin. This makes them less versatile than embryonic stem cells but avoids many of the ethical concerns associated with embryo destruction.
Question 2

What is the primary function of meristem tissue in plants?
- A) Photosynthetic energy
- B) Continuous growth
- C) Nutrient absorption
- D) Structural support
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Answer: Continuous growth

Meristem cells are plant stem cells found at the tips of roots and shoots. They divide by mitosis to produce new cells that can differentiate into any plant cell type, allowing the plant to grow continuously until it dies.
Question 3

Why is the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research a subject of ethical debate?
- A) They cause viral illness
- B) They involve embryos
- C) They are too expensive
- D) They grow too slowly
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Answer: They involve embryos

Embryonic stem cells are often harvested from spare embryos created during fertility treatments. Many people argue that since an embryo has the potential to become a human being, its destruction for research purposes is ethically wrong.

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Sample questions (3 of 25)

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