Stem Cell Research: Status and Ethics

Task 1: Key definitions

• Pluripotent –

• Embryonic stem cell –

• Differentiated -

Are there other types of stem cell?• Embryonic - early

stages of development

• Adult stem cells – allow regeneration and repair of tissues.

• Found deep within organs that need replenishment e.g. bone marrow, skin, gut and brain

Can adult stem cells make any type of cell? No only certain types

Task 2: Questions

1. Where do we find adult stem cells?

2. Can they be used to make all cell types?

How can we use stem cells?

Task 3: research

• Use the internet to find examples of diseases in which stem cells have the potential to treat.

Task 4: THINK – what may be the advantages and disadvantages of using

embryonic stem cells

Advantages Disadvantages

Task 5: Ethics – What do YOU think?• Proponents of human

embryonic stem cell research say that embryos from IVF are going to be discarded and, so, should be used for research

• Prisoners on death row are also going to die, so why not do research on them

Task 5: Ethics – What do YOU think?Write and argument FOR and AGAINST use of STEM cells in a letter to the PM

Evaluate = a higher order thinking task!!