# A patient has been badly burned and large areas of their skin have been destroyed. Doctors are considering using stem cells to grow replacement skin tissue for the patient. Describe how stem cells are able to produce the specialised skin cells needed for this treatment.

> Eduqas GCSE Biology — 2.2.2 Stem cells · Describe · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Stem cells are unspecialised / undifferentiated cells
2. Stem cells can divide (by mitosis / cell division) to produce new cells
3. The new cells then differentiate / become specialised
4. Differentiation involves genes being switched on or off so that only certain proteins are produced, giving the cell its specific structure and function (skin cell)

## Key terms

- [stem cell](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/stem-cell)
- [specialised](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/specialised)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas GCSE Biology](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-patient-has-been-badly-burned-2b45994c) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.