THE
BODY SHOP
BODY PARTS REPLACEMENT USING
CELL THERAPY
INTRODUCTION
How
would you like to replace broken and worn out body parts? How long does a cell live before it has to
be replaced? Can people who are ill
correct genetic mistakes? Since the
cell is the basic unit of all living things and can perform all the life
activities. Would replacing defective,
worn out or old cells improve their health or life span? Stem cells is one technique that is
presently being researched to replace damaged body cells or defective
organs. In New York State stem cells
are used for research only while the medical community would like to go further
and make it available as a means of replacing defective cells or organs. Others feel that because the source of stem
cells is fetal tissue that this is unethical and should not be done.
TASK
Your
task as a scientific sleuth is to research stem cells to learn how they
function and how stems can be used to help bodies heal or replace unhealthy or
damage cells. Use Tips website
worksheet collecting evidence, attach worksheet to your final product. Determine whether humans should have the
right to replace body parts. Evaluate
the present policy on stem cells
PROCESS
Divide
into groups of three or four. Each
group member must take a segment below to research.
Using the worksheets on the tips
website, complete worksheet on collecting evidence, attach to complete product.
a.
Research
what are stem cells and how they function.
b.
Explore
current attempts to manipulate stem cells.
c.
Research
current uses of stem cells.
d.
Discuss
whether humans should have the right to replace parts for aesthetic or health
reasons. Evaluate the present policy on
stem cell research in NY State using the Tips worksheet evaluating a policy.
RESOURCES
Books
NYS
Biology
The
Living Environment: Biology by Rick Hallman
Teaching
the Body to Heal itself by Nicholas Wade
Web
Sites
Biotechnology
challenges to Public Policy
Talking
and teaching biotech- to regulate or not to regulate
Bioethics
and You
Teen:
Math and Science
/science
and health
Biomednet
Biotechnology
research
EVALUATION
Each
member of your team must turn in a completed paper answering all of the
sections a – e of the process. 65% of
the grade is for your completed paper and 35% is for your individual research
that you presented to the group.
CONCLUSION
Your
paper should show your knowledge gained about stem cells and an increase
awareness of the bioethical issues that face members of our society daily.