Exercise A:

What are the two major characteristics of stem cells?
In Part B of this module you were asked to differentiate between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. This tutorial adds in a third type of stem cell: Umbilical Cord Stem Cells. What are Umbilical Cord Stem Cells? Where do Umbilical Cord Stem Cells fit in the range of specialization in comparison to Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells?
Determine the level of potency (totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent) of each Stem Cell type.

Exercise B: Watch this NOVA Now episode on a Stem Cell Breakthrough.

Describe what Shinya Yamanaka did and why it was such a significant development in our work with stem cells.
Identify where Yamanaka's stem cells fall in terms of potency. As a result, what types of cells can these stem cells produce?
Organize the 4 types of stem cells we have discussed in terms of level of potency from highest to lowest.
One of the essential genes for a pluripotent cell is an oncogene. Why do you think an oncogene would be essential for a stem cell?