Stem cells in animals
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what stem cells are, and give examples of where they are found in animals.
Key learning points
- An early animal embryo is made of unspecialised cells; these are embryonic stem cells.
- Embryonic stem cells can differentiate to become all types of cells in the animal’s body.
- As an animal develops into an adult, some cells remain unspecialised; these are adult stem cells.
- Adult stem cells can differentiate to become most but not all types of cells in the animal’s body.
- An example of adult stem cells in humans (e.g. in bone marrow; these can divide and differentiate to make blood cells).
Keywords
Embryo - Formed from a zygote by cell division; it is the early stages of development.
Unspecialised cell - A cell with no specific function, but has the capability to turn into different types of cells.
Embryonic stem cell - A cell from an embryo which can differentiate into any type of cell.
Differentiation - The process of an unspecialised cell becoming specialised through the mechanism of turning genes on and off.
Adult stem cell - Can differentiate into related cells.
Common misconception
Adult stem cells don't exist or can differentiate in the same way as embryonic stem cells.
Give examples of adult stem cells and the types of cells they will differentiate into, using examples that pupils might be familiar with.
Teacher tip
Turn the last task into a big research task of different adult stem cells, pupils could present it or make a poster.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How are multicellular organisms organised?
Q2.Put the following in order starting with the smallest.
Q3.What features does an egg cell have?
Q4.True or false? When a cell such as a muscle cell divides by mitosis, stem cells are produced.
Q5.Who is correct?
Q6.True or false? Only animals have specialised cells.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? Embryo cells are unspecialised and can become any type of specialised cell.
Q2.Cells that remain unspecialised in an organism are called stem cells.
Q3.What can adult stem cells found in bone marrow not differentiate into?
Q4.By what process do adult stem cells renew?
Q5.Who is correct?
Q6.What is the name of the process by which cells become specialised?
To help you plan your 10 biology lesson on: Stem cells in animals, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 biology lesson on: Stem cells in animals, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 biology lessons from the Stem cells and differentiation unit, dive into the full secondary biology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.