WEBQUEST

STEM CELL RESEARCH

ETHICAL OR NOT ?

By:

Noreen Kohler

Bronx International High School

INTRODUCTION:

Parkinson's disease, diabetes, heart failure, and many other diseases continue to plague humanity despite amazing advances in the biomedical research field. Researchers believe that stem cells may, at some point in the future, become the basis for treating these diseases. As scientists learn more about stem cells, it may become possible to use the cells not just in cell-based therapies, but also for screening new drugs and toxins and understanding birth defects.

Why, then, are so many forces in society dead-set against allowing this research to take place? You, as a well known biomedical researcher, want to find out why such a promising method is so violently opposed. The New York State Legislature is opposed to the proposed opening of a state of the art research facility dedicated to stem cell research. You have been hired by three famous celebrities – Michael J. Fox, Montel Williams, and Muhammed Ali- who would benefit from this research. You will represent them before the State legislature in an effort to convince them to legalize and fund this research in New York.

TASK:

Your task in this WebQuest is to produce a persuasive speech of three to five minutes in length that you will present before the NYS legislature. You will use the TIPS six step public policy analyst worksheets as well as the websites provided below to help you in your research. You will also become an expert in the filed of stem cell research to enhance your speech.

PROCESS:

Working in groups of two, you will address each of the following steps:

1. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper and make sure to include this scientific information in your speech.

a. What are stem cells?

b. What is meant by cell differentiation

c. How are stem cells created in the laboratory?

d. How are unused embryos currently disposed of?

2. Using the websites provided below, summarize the problems associated with stem cell research as well as the existing public policy and debate on this issue. Also, summarize your own original public policy that you would like enacted.

a. TIPS Worksheet 1 (Define the problem)

b. TIPS Worksheet 2 (Gather evidence for the problem)

c. TIPS Worksheet 3 (Identify causes of the problem)

d. TIPS Worksheet 4 (Evaluate an existing policy that addresses the problem)

e. TIPS Worksheet 5 (Develop original public policy solutions)

f. TIPS Worksheet 6 (Choose the best public policy solution)

3. Using the information summarized on worksheets 1-6 and the scientific knowledge you have gained compose your persuasive speech to the State Legislature. Be prepared to present this speech in class.

RESOURCES:

http://stemcells.nih.gov/infoCenter/stemCellBasics.asp#1

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2004-05-18-hoffman_x.htm

http://www.lifenews.com/bio302.html

http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20040519/04/

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2572713

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/world/2579682

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/8652828.htm?1c

http://1010wins.com/topstories/winstopstories_story_133163550.html

http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/051304/new_20040513023.shtml

http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/051204/new_clonewars001.shtml

http://www.coshoctontribune.com/news/stories/20040512/opinion/404542.html

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1084949889259460.xml

http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=28875

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/8627895.htm?1c

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,119424,00.html

http://stemcells.nih.gov/fedPolicy/NIHFedPolicy.asp

http://stemcells.nih.gov/stemcell/scireport.asp

http://stemcells.nih.gov/fedPolicy/congressStatements.asp

EVALUATION:

You will be graded according to the following rubric:

Name __________________________________

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Contribute
Research & Gather Information	Does not collect any information that relates to the topic.	Collects very little information--some relates to the topic.	Collects some basic information--most relates to the topic.	Collects a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.
Share Information	Does not relay any information to teammates.	Relays very little information--some relates to the topic.	Relays some basic information--most relates to the topic.	Relays a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.
Be Punctual	Does not hand in any assignments.	Hands in most assignments late.	Hands in most assignments on time.	Hands in all assignments on time.
Take Responsibility
Fulfill Team Role's Duties	Does not perform any duties of assigned team role.	Performs very little duties.	Performs nearly all duties.	Performs all duties of assigned team role.
Participation in Public Policy Panel Conference	Does not speak during the conference.	Either gives too little information or information which is irrelevant to topic.	Offers some information--most is relevant.	Offers a fair amount of important information--all is relevant.
Shares Equally	Always relies on others to do the work.	Rarely does the assigned work--often needs reminding.	Usually does the assigned work--rarely needs reminding.	Always does the assigned work without having to be reminded.
Value Others' Viewpoints
Listen to Other Teammates	Is always talking--never allows anyone else to speak.	Usually doing most of the talking--rarely allows others to speak.	Listens, but sometimes talks too much.	Listens and speaks a fair amount.
Cooperate with Teammates	Usually argues with teammates.	Sometimes argues.	Rarely argues.	Never argues with teammates.
Product
Evidence	Evidence is nonexistent or all is irrelevant	Evidence is skimpy or mostly irrelevant	Some relevant evidence that the problem does exist	Substantial relevant evidence that the problem does exist.
Aesthetics/ Creativity	No color used Poor choice of medium Sloppy workmanship Several mistakes present	Colors inconsistent Medium not used appropriately Good workmanship with several mistakes	Good use of color-consistent throughout. Good choice of medium Neat, some mistakes present	excellent use of color- shows unity throughout. excellent choice of medium very neat, very few mistakes
Mechanics	Does not contain any information that relates to the topic Not structured grammar/spelling mistakes:11 or more	Contains very little information--some relates to the topic Very poor paragraph/sentence structure grammar/spelling mistakes:7-10	Focused on issue/ some basic information--most relates to the topic Good paragraph / sentence structure grammar/spelling mistakes:3-6	Very focused on issue/ great deal of information, all relates to topic Well formatted paragraphs grammar/spelling mistakes: 1-2
				Total

New York State Standards Addressed:

MST

Scientific Inquiry

Hone ideas through reasoning, library research, and discussion with others, including experts

Work toward reconciling competing explanations; clarifying points of agreement and disagreement

Coordinate explanations at different levels of scale, points of focus, and degrees of complexity and specificity and recognize the need for such alternative representations of the natural world

Refine their research ideas through library investigations, including electronic information retrieval and reviews of the literature, and through peer feedback obtained from review and discussion

Use various means of representing and organizing observations (e.g., diagrams, tables, charts, graphs, equations, matrices) and insightfully interpret the organized data

Based on the results of the test and through public discussion, they revise the explanation and contemplate additional research

Develop a written report for public scrutiny that describes their proposed explanation, including a literature review, the research they carried out, its result, and suggestions for further research

CONCLUSION:

Having completed this WebQuest you are now an expert in the field of biotechnology, especially stem cell research. Not only do you understand the science involved, but you also are aware of the social controversy this subject generates. You have critiqued the public policy already in place as well as the many proposals put forth, and you have come up with your own solution to the problem.