STEM CELL AND EPITHELIAL WEBQUEST
Part B: Stem Cells – Go to Utah.genetics.com and watch the following tutorial. If you don’t have
headphones – turn on the closed captions.
1. What is the difference between a stem cell and a specialized cell?
2. Give a definition for differentiation.
3. What does the mesoderm give rise to? What does the ectoderm give rise to? and What does
the endoderm give rise to?
4. What is another name for adult stem cells? Why are they important?
5. How are somatic stem cells different from embryonic stem cells?
6. Where are somatic stem cells found?
On the same website, use the “Go, go stem cells” tutorial. Click on two of the “blood cells niches
and give a 2-3 sentence description of what happens in each.”
Next, use this website from the NIH to answer the following questions:
1. From part I. Introduction, answer the following.
A. What are stem cells?
B. Why are they important in our bodies?
C. How are different from other, specialized cells?
Part 3: Epithelial Tissues
Explore the following links from the Biology department at Davidson. Click here to get started.
1. Overview of Epethilia cells
- What are epethelia cells?
- What are the four main tissue types in humans?
- What holds epethilial cells together?
- What sits just below epithelial cells?
- Where does the epethelia get its nutrients from?
- How are epethilial cells different from endothelial cells?
- 3 ways epithelial cells are different from other cells?
- 4 places epethilial cells are found?
For simple squamous epithelium, simple cuboidal epithelium, and simple columnar epethilium,
briefly summarize their structure, function and location.