Stem Cell Project

Stem Cell Project

Stem Cell Project – Due 3/17/10

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability change into specialized cells. Research is being done to see if stem cells can be used to treat disorders or replace tissue or organs that are injured or diseased.These cells can come from different sources. There is a controversy over the use of embryonic stem cells because these cells come from embryos that are just days old. Adult stem cells come from different sources but they are harder to find and they are limited to the type of tissue they can make. As an honors biology student, you should be aware of the different types of stem cells, their potential uses, and the controversy surrounding their use.

Details of project:

  1. To learn about the basics on stem cells, use to answer the questions in the attached worksheets. Answer on your own sheet of paper, complete sentences.
  2. Create a poster to present the following information.
  3. Laws/recommendations/guidelines for use of stem cells.
  4. What are the present or future benefits of stem cells? Give a short description.
  5. What are the risks or reasons for opposition? Give a short description.
  6. What are blood cord banks, their costs, potential uses and drawbacks?
  7. Be careful to put everything in your own words.
  8. On a separate sheet of paper, give your position on stem cell research. The paper should contain 3 paragraphs (intro, position and summary). It should not exceed one typed page.

Rubric

  1. Worksheets for learn.genetics.utah.edu……………………………………………………………25
  2. Laws/recommendations/guidelines ………………………………………………………………..….. 10
  3. Current or potential benefits from stem cells with a short description …….10
  4. Risks or reasons for opposition; description…………………………………………………….. 10
  5. Description of blood cord banks; pros/cons ……………………………………………….…… 10
  6. Your position paper (3 paragraphs)……………………………………………………….…….…….15
  7. Color, neatness, creativity ………………………………………………………………….…..…….…… 10
  8. Extra information pertaining to stem cells ……………………………………..……….…….. 10

Total points ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….100

Suggested resources (there are a lot more).

NAME______DATE______CLASS______

STEM CELL RESEARCH

To begin your research, log on to the following website:

Click on “What is a Stem Cell?” then answer the following questions:

  1. What is a stem cell?
  2. When a stem cell receives a signal, it begins to differentiate. What does that mean?
  3. Draw and Label three different types of cells that a stem cell can become:

Drawing: / Drawing: / Drawing:

Click on “What are Some Different Types of Stem Cells?”

  1. What are early embryonic stem cells?

5. Define Totipotent:

  1. What are blastocyst embryonic stem cells?
  2. Define Pluripotent:

8. a. What are fetal stem cells?

b. Are fetal stem cells Totipotent or Pluripotent?

  1. What are umbilical cord stem cells?
  2. Define Multipotent:

11.a. What are adult stem cells?

b. Are they Totipotent, Pluripotent, or Multipotent?

*Use this answer sheet to ACE the on-line quiz!!

Click on “Stem Cell Therapies Today” to trace the basic steps in a bone marrow transplant. Read the information on the site, and then fill in the missing information below:

12.Step one- The patient has cancer of the leukocytes or ______

Step two- Leukocytes are made from stem cells in the ______.

Step three- Successful treatment of leukemia involves getting rid of all abnormal leukocytes and the patient’s ______through a combination of ______and ______

Step four- Donor bone marrow containing healthy ______are introduced into the patient’s ______.

Step five- If the transplant is successful, the stem cells will migrate into the patient’s ______and ______

______.

Click on “Additional Resources”, then “Yahoo News Full Coverage of Human Stem Cell Research”

  1. List FIVE new treatments that stem cells may provide in the future:

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

Click on “Stem Cell Therapies in the Future,” then “View student Activity”

  1. Why would using a patient’s own stem cells to grow new tissue be better than using donor cells?
  1. Please read the information carefully, then fully explain three difficulties researchers have to overcome for this therapy to become available to patients in the future:
  1. Research into the use of a patient’s stem cells for therapy such as this is currently prohibited by law.
  2. What is your opinion about this ruling?
  3. Why do you think that the government has enacted such a law? (Why is stem cell research controversial, even though it may hold the key to curing things like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes?) Also, see diagram on next page.
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