STEM CELL RESEARCH
Rose
LoBianco
Living
Environment
Introduction:
Despite
the extraordinary advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human
diseases, illnesses like diabetes, cancer, and disorders of the nervous system
such as Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease
continue to plague human healthy existence and longer life spans. Imagine that YOU could be involved in ending
this suffering by providing cures and treatment or by developing new drugs to
reverse the ill effects of these disorders.
Amazing? These remedies can be
offered by the implementation and development of stem cell research. You are among a group of scientists at the
forefront of this technology and can bring biomedical research to the edge of a
new frontier. In October 2002, you will
be speaking to President Bush and other high ranking government officials at a
public forum on the topic of stem cells derived from human embryos. It is up to you and your team of scientists
to positively influence the President of the
Task
Your group assignment as scientists will be to research
the topic on stem cells with great proficiency so that you will become an
expert within this field. In a four page
report, you will be expected to explain what stem cells are, the various ways
that stem cells are derived in your laboratory, their potential application and
importance to science, and an evaluation of why they hold such great promise
for medical advances. You will be able
to access various Internet sources which will facilitate your exploration and
discovery. You will incorporate the 6 Step Public Policy
Analyst approach within your process.
This report will be presented to the President and other high ranking
government officials in the public forum, along with your creation of a 6 slide
Power Point presentation displaying the various stages of stem cell development
in the laboratory. A cover page will
identify your group of scientists and the type of project you will be
submitting.
PROCESS:
1.
You will be working in conjunction with TWO
other student scientists, assigned by your teacher.
q
Choose a team leader, recorder of information,
and timekeeper to keep the group on task.
2.
Your group must research the topic by using the
specific search engines and websites provided for you under resources. You will
be using the 6 step Policy Analyst worksheets to assist
you in organizing, gathering and recording your information. Each of the 6
worksheets should be completed entirely and will be included with your final
report. You will be able to access these
worksheets by clicking on their numbers as listed in the steps below.
q
Identify the nature of a social problem. Refer to worksheet #1.
q
Gather evidence to support the existence of the problem. Refer to worksheet #2.
q
Determine the causes and factors contributing to the problem. Refer to worksheet #3.
q
Evaluate the existing policy.
Refer to worksheet
#4.
q
Develop public policy alternatives. Refer to worksheet #5.
q
Determine the best public policy solution to the problem. Refer to worksheet #6.
3.
Once your group has thoroughly researched your topic and completed each
worksheet, you will write your research paper.
The following guidelines must be implemented when writing:
q
minimum of 4 typed pages
q
double spacing
q
font type of your choice
q
font size of 14
q
page numbers on the bottom of each page with the
exception of page one.
q
incorporation of your research information and data within
the Public Policy Analyst format and worksheet guidelines.
q
cite references
4. You should now proceed to
the creation of your 6 slide power point presentation. This should include the following color,
graphic representation of the stages of stem cell cultivation with explanations
of pictures on each slide. Specifically:
q
sperm and egg cell
q
in vitro fertilized egg
q
blastocyst
stage (5 – 7 days old)
q
inner stem cell mass
q
cultured undifferentiated stem
cells
q
specialized cells(blood,
muscle, neural)
5.
Your report must contain a cover page with the
following information:
q
Title of project
q
Name of individuals in the group
q
Teacher name
q
Date submitted
q
Class name and type
q
Be creative and colorful:.include clip art, graphic art and pictures from the
website and your computer program.
6. Each
individual scientist must be prepared to orally present an
area of his/her research to the President of the
RESOURCES
Search engines
Websites
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips.html
http://www.accessexcellence.com/ http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/stemcell/
http://www.aaas.org/spp/dser/news.htm http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/08/20010809-2.html
http://whyfiles.org/127stem_cell/stem_cell_graphic.html
EVALUATION
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/stemcell/
I.
You and your group will be
graded on four parts of your project.
1.
Your 4 page research paper
2.
Your worksheets (group)
3.
Your 6 slide Power Point
presentation (group)
4.
Your oral presentation
5.
Your cover
**each group will be graded on the basis
of 100 points. Refer to the rubric
criteria
below for
this value determination.
II. Rubric
1. PRESENTATION
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Stem Cell Research |
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2. REPORT
Stem Cell Research |
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III.
1. English
§ E1c: Read and comprehend
informational materials.
§ E2a: Produce a report of
information.
§
E2e:
Produce a persuasive essay.
§
E4b: Analyze and subsequently revise work to
improve its c
clarity
and effectiveness.
2.
Science
§ S8a: Demonstrates scientific competence by completing secondary
research.
§ S7b: Argues from evidence.
§ S7e: Communications in a form suited to the purpose and the audience.
§ S5c: Uses evidence from reliable sources to develop descriptions,
explanations, and models;
and makes appropriate adjustments and
improvements.
§ S5d:Proposes, recognizes, analyzes, considers, and critiques
alternative
explanations; and
distinguishes between fact and opinion.
§ S5f: Works individually and in teams to collect and share information
and ideas.
CONCLUSION[n1]
Students will identify an
important social problem ofour society, namely that
incurable diseases, like Alzheimer’s and cancer, continue to threaten the
health and longevity of human life, despite outstanding medical
advancements. Students will gather evidence and determine the cause and effects
contributing to this problem.
Students will have a deeper understanding of the
significant medical research on stem cells derived from human embryos and how
they could supply the missing link needed to cure some of the world’s most
deadly diseases. Students will be able
to evaluate the existing public policy on this research and analyze the
advantages and disadvantages to this policy.
Students will be able to provide persuasive
evidence to high ranking government officials of the need for federal funding
so that the nation’s top academic scientists at universities, medical schools
and teach hospitals can continue their research. Underlying this goal, students are required
to consider alternative proposals with reflection upon their feasibility and
effectiveness to obtain optimum consequences.
With this enrichment and vision, students will
move forward to related social problems involving cloning and gene therapy.