Embryonic Stem Cells Webquest

Embryonic Stem Cells Webquest
Developed by Amy Budke

Growing human embryos multiply rapidly. (Photo: SPL)

Go to the host webpage http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn1605 to see the image in its original context. (NewScientist.com is not necessarily a web site that WordExplain endorses.)

Overview

There is a raging debate today in our country over the use of stem cells and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) or therapeutic cloning. This debate can be hard to understand because it involves science and politics. Moreover, the media blurs the data and the information about the use of stem cells, therefore confusing matters even further.

Introduction

In order to stand firm on this debate one must understand what stem cells are, how they are used for research and therapies, and the impact and consequences of their use.

What are WebQuests?

WebQuests are Student-centered and inquiry-based, a WebQuest challenges students to explore the web for information. Most WebQuests include the links that are appropriate for students to research as well as suggestions for further research. WebQuests are generally constructed around a scenario of interest to students.

Instructions: Below is a list of questions. Using the provided links formulate your own answers to the questions.

1. What are stem cells? How many types of stem cells are there?

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/

http://www.kumc.edu/stemcell/intro.html

2. There are three basic methods of obtaining stem cells needed for therapies: Cloning or Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, In Vitro Fertilization and adult stem cell donation. What is Cloning and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer and how does it work?

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/cloning/clickandclone/

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/cloning/whatiscloning/

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n1/stem-cells

3. Abandoned eggs left over from In Vitro Fertilization treatments may also be used for Embryonic Stem Cell Research. What are the implications of this?

http://www.stemcellresearchfacts.org/

http://www.stemcellresearchfacts.org/what-is-a-stem-cell/

http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/964/Ten_Great_Media_Myths_in_the_Debate_Over_Stem_Cell_Research.html

4. What are adult stem cells? How are they used for therapies and research?

http://www.stemcellresearchfacts.org/

http://www.citizenlink.org/images/votenocloning/learn-missourians.html

5. What are the moral and ethical considerations of Embryonic Stem Cell Research?

http://www.bdfund.org/eggfarmingfacts.asp

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n1/stem-cells

6. What does the Bible say about Embryonic Stem Cell Research?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139:13-16;&version=31;

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%2011:5;&version=31;

7. What do you believe?

About the Developer of This WebQuest

Amy Budke is a former high school Biology Teacher. She has her B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and a minor in General Biology from the University of Missouri. She has her Master’s in Curriculum and Education from UMKC.

Amy is a Leukemia survivor. She had a bone marrow transplant in 1996. A bone marrow transplant involves removing bone marrow—which contains adult blood stem cells—from a donor and transplanting this cancer-free marrow in to the patient. Today Amy is very healthy and extremely thankful for the generous gift from her donor, Andy.