Activity 5: Taking a Stand on Stem Cell Research

This activity asks students to take a stance on the direction of stem cell research and to consider the intersection of scientific and ethical points of view. Students will contemplate the views of various interest groups who argue for or against embryonic stem cell research. Though the debate may seem to center on the extreme aims of a total ban or completely unregulated research, there are subtle differences in each group’s approach to legislation. These variations reflect a complex set of cultural and ethical values. In this activity, students identify the central tenets of each group’s campaign and begin to formulate new questions in response to the needs of culture, economics, politics, religion, science, and medicine. In Assignment 1, students role-play members of various interest groups during a symposium focused on the future of stem cell research. This assignment is designed to stimulate student interest and is presented as a brief set of perspectives and questions that are tackled within one or two class periods. Assignment 2 is a more extended and advanced exercise in which students consider the government’s role in funding and directing stem cell research. Students conduct research outside of class and compose a letter to a policy maker that outlines and supports their views on the direction and funding options for this burgeoning field of science and medicine.

By the completion of this activity students will be able to:

• Identify potential treatments and preventative health strategies based on stem cell technologies.
• Comprehend the biology of embryogenesis, genomic imprinting, and cloning.
• Understand the differences between adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells.
• Appreciate the ethical concerns related to embryonic stem cell benefits and risks.
• Recognize the compromises that often accompany public policy decisions.
• Identify national and international regulations for stem cell research.
• Communicate their ideas in a more clear and cogent manner.

This Activity contains two assignments for instructors to choose between or combine, a set of Teaching Notes that outlines strategy for implementation and includes an Answer Key (for instructors only) which summarizes potential therapies, legislation, and controversies surrounding stem cell technology applications.

Assignment 1: In-Class Symposium
Assignment 2: Letter to Policy Maker
Teaching Notes

For a downloadable/printable version in PDF format of these pages visit Core Materials

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