Stem Cells and Society

Catalyst: Describe one example of how genetic testing could be used to help someone.

Describe one example of how gene therapy could be used to help someone.

Do you think it ever acceptable to kill one person to help someone else? Explain your answer. (Be honest! There is no right or wrong answer.)

Write in complete sentences!

Don’t talk during the Catalyst!

Objectives

By the end of today, SWBAT…

Discuss ethical issues surrounding stem cell research

Evaluate the pros and cons of stem cell research

Agenda

CatalystWhat is a stem cell?New TechnologyFuture of Stem CellsExit Question

What is a stem cell??!??!?

Key Point #1: Stem cells are cells that have the potential to become any other kind of cell. If we put stem cells in the liver, they

will turn into brand new liver cells. If we put stem cells in the heart, they

will turn into brand new heart cells. We have even found certain types of

stem cells can become brain cells.

Think

If we perfected stem cell research, what are some things that we could use stem cells for?

How could stem cells help humans? If we can harvest cells that can turn into

any type of cell... There are many potential uses:

Cancer:

Alzheimer’s:

Burn victims:

We can remove the old “bad cells” and implant stem cells to replace them.

When old people begin to lose memory, new brain cells could be implanted to replace the dying ones. If someone’s skin gets damaged from a bad burn, the dead skin can be replaced with new skin.

All this is well and good…

Controversy comes from the origin of these stem cells. In-vitro fertilization = when a sperm and egg are combined in a lab. The resulting embryo is implanted in a woman’s uterus.

Unused embryos are destroyed. Before they are destroyed, scientists

can dissect them to get stem cells.

Where we’re coming from…

"This bill would support the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others," _______ said Wednesday afternoon. "It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect. So I vetoed it."

"These boys and girls are not spare parts," he said of the children in the audience. "They remind us of what is lost when embryos are destroyed in the name of research. They remind us that we all begin our lives as a small collection of cells."

George Bush did not allow scientists to gain federal money (money from the U.S. government) to pursue scientific research. Federal money supports most research science in

the country. (Drug companies fund quite a bit of research as well)

(Dis)Agree?

“It is OK to gather stem cells from human embryos left over from IVF, since they would have been destroyed anyway.”

(Dis)Agree?

“Stem cells research comes from murder. Stem cell research is morally wrong.”

(Dis)Agree?

“American taxpayers should not have to pay for stem cell research if they do not agree with it.”

Well… check out what we found… Key Point #2: It is possible to

harvest stem cells from bone marrow and fat in ADULTS. Somatic stem cells = stem cells that

are harvested from adult body cells

Why would this be such an important discovery for researchers?

Researchers are looking for ways to use these cells just like embryonic stem cells

Does this change the whole debate?

How does this change the stem cell debate?

Another if…

Key Point #3: Stem cell therapies have worked with moderate success. Scientists still need to work on issues such as:Immune RejectionTurning into the right type of cellDividing too much (cancerous)

Short Answer Response Practice Review and Peer Edit

There will be a prompt and you will have 15 minutes to write a response to it.

Your peer is going to grade you on your prompt. We will go over this after the 15 minute interval.

Prompts Write one 6-sentence ¶ for each

1. Identify one disease or disorder that could be treated with stem cells. Then, describe HOW stem cells could be used to treat that disease/disorder.

2. Why is there such a controversy about embryonic stem cells? Should research be done on embryonic stem cells? Support your answer.

3. It’s 2021 and stem cell therapy is the most common way to treat diseases. Predict at least three things that may occur because of this.

(Example: Some drug companies may go out of business because patients no longer need drugs for these diseases. DO NOT USE THIS EXAMPLE.)

Peer Review – 10 minutes

On the person’s paper Circle any comment that is well-defended (explains

why the person said what he/she said) Underline vocabulary that the student used that is

higher/advanced Box anything that urges the readers to think.

Put your grade out of 100 and write one complete sentence about why you gave them the grade that they deserve. Remember, you must be justified in giving them that grade!

Hold high expectations!

Key Point Wrap-Up

Key Point #1: Stem cells are cells that have the potential to become any other kind of cell. Embryonic stem cells = stem cells that are

harvested from embryos Key Point #2: It is possible to harvest

stem cells from bone marrow and fat in ADULTS. Somatic stem cells = stem cells that are

harvested from adult body cells Key Point #3: Stem cell therapies have

worked with moderate success.

Exit Questions

Identify one disease/disorder that could be treated by stem cells. Then, describe HOW stem cells could be used to treat that disease/disorder.

Why do some people oppose embryonic stem cell research?

What are somatic stem cells, and why was their discovery so important?

Write in complete sentences!

Don’t talk during the Catalyst!