National 5 Biology

Unit 2 – Multicellular Organisms

2.2 Stem Cells and

Meristems
 Learning Intentions
• State that stem cells are non-specialised
(undifferentiated) cells
• State that stem cells can become any type of cell
• State that stem cells are involved in growth and repair
• Give examples of uses of stem cells in animals
• State what is meant by a meristem
• State that meristems are the only sites of cell division in
plant cells
• State that the cells produced in meristems are non-
specialised (undifferentiated ) cells
• State that cell division in meristems allows plants to grow.
 Stem Cells

• Involved in growth and repair of

organisms

• Produce specialised cells in animals.

• Have the ability to become any type of

cells.
http://outreach.mcb.harvard.edu/animations/thera7c.swf
 Types of Stem Cells
• Embryonic stem cells
• - derived from embryos that develop from eggs fertilised
in a laboratory.

• Adult stem cells

• Found in body along side other differentiated cells
• Examples
• - bone marrow
• - blood vessels
• - skin
• - liver
• - heart

• They are body’s built-in repair kits

• Replace cells damaged by disease, injury and every day
wear and tear
Can develop into any cell [as in embryo]

Can develop into some cells

Source of stem cell Medical Use

Marrow in bones Treating leukaemia, a type of

cancer caused by abnormal blood
cells.

Skin Growing new layers of skin that can

be used to treat burn victims.

Heart muscle Repairing damaged heart muscle

after a heart attack (still being
tested at the moment)

Bladder Building a new bladder in the

laboratory for a patient whose
bladder has been damaged by
injury or disease.
 Complete the following table
Embryonic Stem cells
Pros Cons

Adult Stem cells

Pros Cons
 Potential uses of stem cells
• http://www.eurostemcell.org/stem-cell-
factsheets
• http://www.medicinenet.com/stem_cells/arti
cle.htmells/sctoday/
• http://www.scribd.com/doc/104427724/types
-of-stem-cells-and-their-current-uses
• http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/s
temcells/sctoday/
 Meristems in plants
• Plants continue to grow throughout life

• New cells are produced at meristems

• This allows growth to take place

• Tips of shoots and roots

• Some unspecialised cells continue to divide

• Others develop into specialised cells

 What are meristems?

• Meristems are the sites of production of non-

specialised cells in plants.
• These cells have the potential to become any type of
plant cell and contribute to plant growth.
• They are the only sites for cell division in a plant.
 Where are meristems found in the plant?

• Meristems are present at root and shoot tips

(apical meristems) and lateral buds (lateral
meristems)

Lateral buds
• Cells at root and shoot tips
undergo rapid mitosis and
cell division producing
new cells
• New cells expand by a
process called elongationXylem and
Differentiation
• New cells produced can phloem
differentiate to form
specialised tissues such as Elongation
xylem or phloem
Mitosis
 Lateral
meristems Xylem

Vascular Cambium
Bundle

Phloem

• Lateral meristems consist of cambium cells.

• These cells are situated in vascular bundles

between xylem and phloem tissue
Secondary Thickening ( growth )

Xylem

Cambium

Phloem

Vascular Bundle
 Year 1

Year 2
Rings of Year 3
Xylem
Year 4

• Xylem is produced every year leading to the

formation of annual rings
 Year 4 Cambium

Poor year Year 3

Summer into autumn Xylem

Good year Year 2
Spring into summer Xylem

Year 1
 Size of annual rings

• Spring into Summer – large thin walled xylem vessels

allow for increased flow of water and minerals.
• Summer into Autumn – small thick walled xylem
provide greater support.
• The width of each ring is dependent upon growing
conditions present during that year.
a. Wider rings are produced by warm or wet
weather
b. Narrow rings are produced by cold or dry
conditions.
Root Meristem
Zone of specialisation
Zone of elongation
Zone of cell division
Root hair
 Shoot Meristem

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