Lesson 4.1.2.3

4.1.2.3 Stem cells Quiz: AQA Biology, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.1.2.3, Stem cells: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Biology (8461), Unit 1: Cell biology, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which term describes a cell that has not yet become specialised?

    • Undifferentiated cell
    • Differentiated cell
    • Somatic cell
    • Specialised cell

  2. Into what range of cell types can human embryonic stem cells differentiate?

    • Only blood cells
    • No cell types
    • Only skin cells
    • Most cell types

  3. Which type of cells can stem cells from adult bone marrow form?

    • Blood cells
    • Muscle cells
    • Nerve cells
    • Brain cells

  4. Which plant cells can meristem tissue differentiate into throughout the plant's life?

    • Only root cells
    • Any cell type
    • Only xylem cells
    • No cell types

  5. In which parts of a growing plant is meristem tissue located?

    • Pith and bark
    • Seeds and fruit
    • Shoots and roots
    • Leaves and flowers

  6. Whose genes are identical to those of an embryo produced in therapeutic cloning?

    • The donor
    • The surrogate
    • The patient
    • The doctor

  7. A scientist wants stem cells that match a patient's genes. Which technique is described?

    • Therapeutic cloning
    • Binary fission
    • Active transport
    • Osmosis

  8. What is a potential medical risk associated with stem cell treatments?

    • Viral infection transfer
    • Bacterial resistance
    • Vitamin deficiency
    • Loss of immunity

  9. Why is meristem tissue used to clone crop plants?

    • Increased seed count
    • Quick and cheap
    • Slower growth rate
    • High genetic diversity

  10. How does cloning rare plant species using meristems benefit conservation?

    • Slowing growth
    • Prevents extinction
    • Stops photosynthesis
    • Increases mutations

  11. Why are disease-resistant crop plants cloned in large numbers for farmers?

    • Varies gene pool
    • Produces identical crops
    • Reduces plant yield
    • Increases weed growth

  12. Treatment with stem cells may be able to help conditions such as:

    • Diabetes and paralysis
    • Salmonella food poisoning
    • Rose black spot
    • Tobacco mosaic virus

  13. What main concern causes some people to object to embryonic stem cell use?

    • Ethical and religious
    • Chemical and physical
    • Climatic and environmental
    • Financial and economic

  14. What type of cells can stem cells from human embryos differentiate into?

    • Plant cells only
    • Nerve cells only
    • Blood cells only
    • Most cell types

  15. What can stem cells found in adult human bone marrow differentiate into?

    • Blood cells
    • Brain cells only
    • Skin cells only
    • Any cell type

  16. Which risk is associated with using embryonic stem cells in medical treatments?

    • Viral infection transfer
    • Bacterial mutation
    • Enzyme denaturation
    • Cellular lysis

  17. What type of cells can plant meristem tissue differentiate into?

    • Root cells only
    • Guard cells only
    • Xylem cells only
    • Any plant cell

  18. Which term describes an unspecialised cell that can differentiate into other cell types?

    • Gamete cell
    • Stem cell
    • Somatic cell
    • Specialised cell

  19. Which medical condition can potentially be treated using stem cell therapy?

    • Scurvy
    • Influenza
    • Malaria
    • Diabetes

  20. For how long can plant meristem tissue differentiate into new cells?

    • During germination only
    • Throughout life
    • Until flowering
    • First year only

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