Dr. Sally
Dr. Sally Cellago and her stem cell research team
You group will answer the following questions playing the character role of university researcher, Professor Cellago and her stem cell lab research assistants. The stem cell scientists in her lab work with all types of stem cells. Limited federal funding under the Bush administration had allowed work with a limited number of embryonic stem cell lines. Under the Obama administration, these restrictions have been lifted. You will use the answers to these questions to formulate your 2-3 minute presentation or your commercial. At the end of your presentation/commercial, it should be clear where your role "stands" on the "Big Question" Remember, all scientists might not agree with eachother. You can choose which perspective(s) to present this from.
1. Research and briefly explain two current research studies or clinical trials involving stem cells. It might be helpful to make a chart to organize your response...summarize the type of stem cell used, the general nature of the experiment or research, and the outcome of the experiment.
( Hint: go to the trials and research page- scroll down to the link on the lower left side )
2. Why do some scientists believe that hESC research is so promising? What potential/future hope is there? Mention three specific diseases, what these diseases are caused from , and how stem cell therapy could possibly help. It might be helpful to make a chart to organize your response.
3. Under president Bush's administration, federal funding for ESC research was limited to 22 cell lines. President Obama lifted the ban on stem cell research. As a scientist, how does this impact your research? Explain.
4. Describe the process of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and how this creates embryos that could be donated for stem cell research.
5. Describe how stem cells are created from cloned embryos (SCNT). As a scientist in Dr. Cellago's lab, do you feel stem cells created from cloned embryos should be used? Please be sure to explain how this method differs from using stem cells left over from IVF.
6. How do you feel about the following statement: " Science moves fast -- a lot faster than in the legislative arena" ?
7. According to your "roles" as a sceintist in Dr. Cellago's lab, what restrictions do you feel should there be on hESC research? According to your "roles", do you feel the scientists in this lab would support Obama's decision to lift the ban on federal funding? Explain with examples if possible.Why or why not?
8. Describe iPSCs. What are they? What potential will they have in the future? How would this erase the "stem cell debate' if they prove to be as promising as they seem?
9. Create a chart comparing adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and iPSCs. You must include: origin of these cells, if they are multi, pluri-potent, pro of these cells (+), con of these cells (-).
10. Although iPSCs are exciting and promising. hESCs are still considered the "gold standard" according to some stem cell sceintists. Explain what this means.
1. Research and briefly explain two current research studies or clinical trials involving stem cells. It might be helpful to make a chart to organize your response...summarize the type of stem cell used, the general nature of the experiment or research, and the outcome of the experiment.
( Hint: go to the trials and research page- scroll down to the link on the lower left side )
2. Why do some scientists believe that hESC research is so promising? What potential/future hope is there? Mention three specific diseases, what these diseases are caused from , and how stem cell therapy could possibly help. It might be helpful to make a chart to organize your response.
3. Under president Bush's administration, federal funding for ESC research was limited to 22 cell lines. President Obama lifted the ban on stem cell research. As a scientist, how does this impact your research? Explain.
4. Describe the process of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and how this creates embryos that could be donated for stem cell research.
5. Describe how stem cells are created from cloned embryos (SCNT). As a scientist in Dr. Cellago's lab, do you feel stem cells created from cloned embryos should be used? Please be sure to explain how this method differs from using stem cells left over from IVF.
6. How do you feel about the following statement: " Science moves fast -- a lot faster than in the legislative arena" ?
7. According to your "roles" as a sceintist in Dr. Cellago's lab, what restrictions do you feel should there be on hESC research? According to your "roles", do you feel the scientists in this lab would support Obama's decision to lift the ban on federal funding? Explain with examples if possible.Why or why not?
8. Describe iPSCs. What are they? What potential will they have in the future? How would this erase the "stem cell debate' if they prove to be as promising as they seem?
9. Create a chart comparing adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and iPSCs. You must include: origin of these cells, if they are multi, pluri-potent, pro of these cells (+), con of these cells (-).
10. Although iPSCs are exciting and promising. hESCs are still considered the "gold standard" according to some stem cell sceintists. Explain what this means.