IB Diploma · Biology B2.3
IB Biology B2.3: Cell Spec. — Practice Questions & Answers
IB Biology B2.3 study notes: stem cells, differentiation, gene expression, and how specialized cells form tissues, organs and systems.
Here are 10 practice questions with full answers and explanations.
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Practice questions with answers
1
Multiple choice
What process leads to the development of specialized cells from unspecialized cells after fertilization?
- Differentiation
- Meiosis
- Mitosis
- Transcription
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WhyDifferentiation is the process by which unspecialized cells become specialized for particular functions.
2
Multiple choice
What factors influence gene expression during early embryo development?
- Gradients
- Temperature fluctations
- Mitosis
- SA to V ratio
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WhyConcentration gradients of signalling molecules give cells positional information that regulates gene expression.
3
Multiple choice
What are two key properties of stem cells?
- Capacity to divide endlessly and differentiate along different pathways.
- Ability to perform photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
- High metabolic rates and immediate specialization
- Storage of lipids and carbohydrates.
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WhyStem cells can divide indefinitely and differentiate into different specialized cell types.
4
Multiple choice
What is the function of a stem cell niche?
- Maintain stem cells or promote their proliferation and differentiation
- To directly differentiate stem cells into all possible cell types
- To induce rapid cell death in stem cells
- All of the options
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WhyA stem cell niche is a local environment that maintains stem cells and controls their division and differentiation.
5
Multiple choice
Which of the following is an example of a stem cell niche in adult humans?
- Bone marrow
- Liver tissue
- Kidney tubules
- Lung alveoli
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WhyBone marrow houses haematopoietic stem cells, making it an adult stem cell niche.
6
Multiple choice
Which type of stem cell has the ability to differentiate into any cell type, including extraembryonic tissues?
- Totipotent
- Pluripotent
- Multipotent
- Unipotent
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WhyTotipotent stem cells can form every cell type, including the extraembryonic tissues such as the placenta.
7
Multiple choice
Which type of stem cell can differentiate into a limited range of cell types?
- Multipotent
- Totipotent
- Pluripotent
- Unipotent
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WhyMultipotent stem cells can differentiate only into a limited, related range of cell types.
8
Multiple choice
Where are totipotent stem cells found in animals?
- Early-stage embryos
- Adult bone marrow
- Hair follicles
- Muscle tissue
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WhyTotipotent cells are found in the very early embryo, before cells begin to specialize.
9
Multiple choice
Where are multipotent stem cells found in adults?
- Bone marrow
- Early-stage embryos
- Developing neurons
- Skin epidermis
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WhyBone marrow contains multipotent haematopoietic stem cells that form the various blood cell types.
10
Multiple choice
What is an aspect of cell specialization that varies significantly in humans?
- Cell size
- DNA sequence
- Ribosome number
- Mitochondrial function
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WhySpecialized human cells differ greatly in size, from tiny sperm to large muscle fibres.
Key terms in Cell Spec.
Stem cell: An unspecialised cell able to self-renew by division and to differentiate into one or more specialised cell types.
Differentiation: The process by which a cell becomes specialised in structure and function through changes in gene expression.
Gene expression: The use of a gene to make its product; switching genes on or off makes cells different despite a shared genome.
Totipotent: Able to differentiate into any cell type, including extra-embryonic tissue such as placenta.
Pluripotent: Able to differentiate into any cell type of the body, as in embryonic stem cells.
Multipotent: Able to differentiate into a limited range of related cell types, as in many adult stem cells.
Tissue: A group of similar specialised cells working together to perform a function.
Organ: A structure made of several tissues that work together to carry out a particular role.
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