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Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function

Chapter 38, Problem 8

Human embryonic stem cells are capable of forming all types of cells in the human body. How are these cells similar to meristem cells in plants?

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Hi everyone welcome back. Here's our next question. It says cells that retain embryonic features and are capable of forming all types of cells in the human body are referred to as well. Let's look at our answer choices. We have total potent cells are cells embryonic stem cells and non potent cells. As we look over them we can eliminate two of these choices right away. The other two are going to be a little trickier. Um But Choice B tumor cells is not going to be our correct answer. Tumor cells are not capable of forming all types of cells in the human body. Um They're usually already differentiated. They are cells that are characterized by by growing and dividing out of control. They've lost something's gone wrong with the signals that tell them to stop growing and dividing so that's not our answer. And in Choice D non potent cells well cells can have different potency, the potential to become different things. Um You can have total potent cells. As we see one of those choices. Pluripotent cells, multi potent cells. Unit potent cells that can only that are already differentiated can only become one type of cell but non potent would mean they couldn't become anything. So we can rule that out right away. So we're left with choice A toady potent cells and choice C embryonic stem cells. And again we're looking for cells that retain embryonic features and are capable of forming all types of cells in the human body. Our key phrase here is all types of cells in the human body because Tony potent cells not only have the capability of becoming all types of cells in the human body but they can also become the tissues of the placenta as well, giving them the capability of developing into a complete adult organism. Choice C embryonic stem cells are pluripotent completely pluripotent. They can become any type of cell in the human body but they cannot develop into the tissues of the placenta. So since our question specifically says capable of forming all types of cells in the human body and doesn't say anything about tissues of the placenta, our answer is going to be Choice C embryonic stem cells and not choice A. Toady potent cells. So once again, cells that retain embryonic features capable of forming all types of cells in the human body are referred to as Choice C. Embryonic stem cells. See you in the next video.
Related Practice
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For each of the following, explain how structure relates to function: absorptive sections of the digestive tract; capillaries; beaks of Galápagos finches; fish gills.

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The metabolic rate of a frog in summer (at 35°C) is about eight times higher than in winter (at 5°C). Compare and contrast the frog's ability to move, exchange gases, and digest food at the two temperatures. During which season will the frog require more food energy, and why?

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Explain why most endotherms are homeothermic and most ectotherms are poikilothermic.

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Open Question

a. Consider three spheres with radii of 1 cm, 5 cm, and 10 cm. Based on what you read in the chapter, predict which sphere will have the highest surface area to volume ratio, and which sphere will have the lowest.

b. Next, calculate the surface area and the volume of each sphere. (Surface area of a sphere=4𝜋𝑟2; volume of a sphere=(4/3)𝜋𝑟3.) Plot the results on a graph with radius on the 𝑥-axis and surface area and volume on the 𝑦-axis.

c. Which sphere has the highest surface area to volume ratio? The lowest? Explain how the graph shows the relationship between size and surface area to volume ratio.

d. Now imagine that these spheres represent a small, medium, and large endothermic animal. Which animal would lose heat most rapidly? Explain using the surface area to volume ratio.

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Textbook Question

Explain why it would be impossible for a gorilla the size of King Kong to have fur. (Your answer should explain how the surface area to volume ratio of a normal-sized gorilla would compare to Kong's; relate this to the role of surface area and volume in heat generation and heat transfer, and consider the function of fur.)

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Textbook Question

The dinosaur Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus) is one of the largest terrestrial animals that ever lived—over 20 m in length and weighing over 20 metric tons. Is it more likely that Apatosaurus was homeothermic or poikilothermic? Explain.

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