Practise IB Biology HL B2.3 with evidence-led questions on stem-cell potency, differentiation, exchange surfaces and the structure–function adaptations of specialized cells.
Type I diabetes is a leading cause of death in advanced countries and is associated with various severe or fatal complications, including blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, neuropathy, and amputations. Embryonic stem cells are considered to be a powerful tool in the treatment of diabetes.
In a study, embryonic stem cells were grown in culture and tested for insulin mRNA. A drug was injected into two groups of healthy mice in order to simulate type I diabetes 15 days prior to the transplant of embryonic stem cells. The mice in the transplant group received embryonic stem cells that produce insulin mRNA. The control group did not receive the transplant. The graph shows the blood glucose concentration in both groups.
Describe the reason for testing for insulin mRNA in the embryonic stem cell cultures.
Outline reasons for the therapeutic use of stem cells.
State what change there has been in the cell surface area to volume ratio in red blood cell 1.