PDF files require 
This activity guides students though a careful reading of a published research article that was later found to contain falsified data and to be based on unethical protocols. Published in 2004, the researchers claim to have cloned the first human blastocyst. The research article is accompanied by secondary literature, because what stands out about this piece of work is the fact that much of the information necessary to understand this experiment does not appear in the primary text, but rather in news articles, commentaries, and interviews. Published between 2000 and 2006, the articles accompanying this activity trace the work that led us to revisit our understanding of cell plasticity and forced us to consider seriously the ethical ramifications of expanding the repertoire of stem cell sources and associated technologies too quickly. Specifically, the negative results that were obtained when using a variety of donor cells are not reported in the Science article, and in 2006 the research article and accompanying bioethics articles were retracted due to the falsification of data and protocols. Despite the retraction, the basic methodology in this paper remains important to embryonic stem cell research and the commentaries published after the retraction demonstrate the range of responses by editorial boards, publishers, and the scientific community at large.
This collection of readings might lead to a discussion of important issues of publication and reporting in the scientific community. It should also provoke students to consider the reasons why some combinations of donor and recipient in cloning experiments are successful while others are not. The activity prompts students to think critically and to question the methodology and conclusions of peer-reviewed publications.
At the completion of this activity, students should be able to:
- Articulate the premises, benefits, and limitations of the experimental methods and approach of this study.
- Analyze data critically, considering any possible bias toward one interpretation of these results over another.
- Distinguish between in vitro and in vivo studies and identify the merits of each.
- Understand relevant experimental techniques such as RT-PCR, cell transplantation, karyotyping, DNA fingerprinting, immunocytochemistry, and genomic imprinting analyses.
- Understand the regulations and ethics surrounding human subjects research in both the private and public sector.
- Realize that scientific publications span a wide range of formats and that research publications undergo a great deal of peer review and that many journals are now publishing online at a faster rate.
- Recognize that both secondary and primary literature are essential for a full understanding of the field and that both result in extended dialogue long after publication.
- Propose new avenues of research to clarify or build upon the authors' reported results. (Incidentally, the follow up work in 2005 also published by this research team may be assigned here or reviewed in Activity 4 which focuses on therapeutic applications of stem cell research).
This Activity has one Assignment which contains references to a set of scientific and review articles, key terms and techniques, and a list of questions that should be answered with short essays. The Teaching Notes provide instructors with a variety of options for assessment and evaluation and a comprehensive Answer Key for this activity (for instructors only).
Assignment 1: Reading Scientific Literature
Assignment 1: Student Vocabulary Aid
Teaching Notes
For a downloadable/printable version in PDF format of these pages visit Core Materials
Return to Top