IGCSE Biology / Life processes

Stem cells and differentiation

Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1), chapter 1: Life processes, specification point 2.5B, 2.6B. Part of the full course.

Read the revision notes · IGCSE Biology past papers

Stem cells are unspecialised cells that can divide or differentiate into specialised cells. Understanding how differentiation works also helps explain the medical potential and ethical concerns around using stem cells.

More lessons in Life processes

• The characteristics of living organisms
• Animal and plant cells under the microscope
• The light microscope and magnification
• Temperature, pH and denaturing
• Practical: measuring enzyme activity
• Anaerobic respiration and how it differs from aerobic
• Practical: enzymes and food
• Aerobic respiration and ATP
• Practical: showing that respiring seeds give out carbon dioxide and heat
• Diffusion
• Osmosis
• Active transport
• What changes the rate of movement
• Cells, tissues, organs and systems
• Enzymes and the active site