Stem Cells and Society

Catalyst: Is it ever acceptable to take a life to help someone? Explain your answer.

Is it acceptable to use parts from a dead body to help someone? Explain your 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

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 implant new “good cells” to grow and remove the “bad cells.”

a degenerative brain disease. 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

The situation…

No one can deny the potential of stem cell research…So then why is it such a hot issue?

Harvesting stem cells

These are fetuses that were aborted by the mother.

The mother gave consent for scientists to gather stem cells.

Key Point #2: Scientists have only

been successful collecting stem cells from aborted fetuses.

Who said it?

"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)

Discussion

Should the United States fund research done on stem cells if they require the destruction of fetuses?

Obama

In his first few days in office, President Obama repealed President Bush’s ban on funding stem cell research.

Discussion

Why did President Obama reverse President Bush’s ban on funding stem cell research.

Research

You will learn about cloning tomorrow. One of the biggest area of research is cloning humans to create stem cells.

Why would you want to create stem cells of your own DNA? Think about if some of your heart tissue died and you could

create personalized new tissue to replace it. No chance of your body rejecting it!

Hwang Woo-Suk reached celebrity status because he said he created 11 different stem cell lines from 11 different people of different ages and genders.

However, he made up the data! Scientists found out that he didn’t produce what he said he did!!

Why? (Discussion)

What makes a good science experiment?

Must be based in data Must be REPEATABLE!!

Debate Expectations

We will do a Socratic style debate for these next few prompts.

You do not have to raise your hand. HOWEVER, you must be silent when someone else is talking. After, they are done, you can jump in.

You will get a grade based on how many relevant comments you make on the topic.

Debate

Since those embryos would have been thrown out anyway, it is OK to gather stem cells from human embryos.

Debate

Stem cells = MURDER. It is never OK to take one life to improve another. Stem cell research is fundamentally wrong.

Debate

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

There are two articles written on the same day about the same topic. Read both and we will analyze how writers can sway UNEDUCATED readers.

Exit Question

Do you think we should use federal money to fund stem cell research? Explain your view.

Write in complete sentences!

Don’t talk during the Exit Question!