Introduction
Why don't we live forever?
Because we get sick?
Because we get old?
Because we get hurt and can't heal?
All of these are correct. Each one results from a failure of the body's ability to grow, maintain or repair itself - functions that depend on our stem cells.
Stem cells can form the basic building materials for the human body. This makes them good candidates for restoring tissues that have been damaged by injury or disease.
For decades, researchers have been studying the biology of stem cells to figure out how development works and to find new ways of treating health problems.
How would stem cell therapy work?
The goal of any stem cell therapy is to repair a damaged tissue that can't heal itself.
This might be accomplished by transplanting stem cells into the damaged area and directing them to grow new, healthy tissue.
It may also be possible to coax stem cells already in the body to work overtime and produce new tissue.
To date, researchers have found more success with the first method, stem cell transplants.
New technologies have jump-started the pace of stem cell discovery in recent years. Stem cell therapies being developed today will gradually become commonplace in treating our health problems.
But should we accept these new technologies without considering their implications to society? For example, we might hear about the benefits of a stem cell therapy, but what are the risks? All of us - researchers, policymakers and the public - have a responsibility to explore the potential effects of stem cell research on our lives so that we can make informed decisions.
For each new application of stem cell technology, we must consider:
* What are the benefits?
* What are the risks?
* Whom will the technology help? Does it have the potential to hurt anyone?
* What does this mean for me? For my family? For others around me?
* Why might others not share my view?
Task
Your job in this WebQuest is to form an opinion as to whether stem cell research should be allowed and if so should there be laws limiting the conditions of this research. You will learn what stem cell research is and how it occurs. You will research the ethical arguments both for and against stem cell research. You will identify some of the moral issues that accompany stem cell research.
You will present your findings to the class by using a PowerPoint presentation. In this presentation you will discuss the biological aspects of stem cell research...that is what it is. You will in short...teach the topic of stem cell research and conclude with the above discussion on the ethical and possible legel considerations.
The links below will give you all that you need to know I believe. You may use any resource however.
The Rubric for grading will be available to you in hard copy...ask for it!
Good luck, have fun.
Some Questions and thoughts to help you get started.
Ethical, legal and social issues.
There are several types of issues to consider as we think about stem cell research.
Ethical issues are those that ask us to consider the potential moral outcomes of stem cell research.
Legal issues require researchers and the public to help policymakers decide whether and how stem cell research should be regulated by the government.
Social issues involve the impact of stem cell research on society as a whole.
The questions raised here have no clear right or wrong answer. Instead, your response will depend on your own set of values, as well as the opinions of those around you.
* How far should researchers take stem cell technologies? Just because we can do something, should we? Why or why not?
* Should the government provide funding for embryonic stem cell research? Why or why not?
* Should there be laws to regulate stem cell research? If so, what would they look like? For example, how would you regulate research using different types of stem cells, such as embryonic, fetal or adult stem cells? What about embryonic stem cells created using cloning technologies?
* Do embryonic stem cells represent a human life? This is an ongoing debate that brings up the question of when life begins. Should the embryo or fetus have any rights in the matter? Who has the authority to decide?
* Should frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization be used to create stem cells? Why or why not?
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