On this page I have put some interesting links to web sites that will hopefully extend your understanding on the topic of stem cells, as well as being fun to look at. Please take into consideration any questions I put under the links, as this will help you get more out of the resource.
What is your view on the ethics of using embryos in stem cell research? Are the benefits worth the moral cost of destroying the embryos? Is the destruction of an embryo murder, or is it along the lines of cutting down a flower? How do you view the embryo? Should it be treated as a person, a living thing, or just a bunch of cells? Consider your views on this topic then click on the link above. The article on ethics is non-biased and discusses all different point of view and the merits of each. Especially focus on pages 13-19 of the PDF file where the various views of the status of an embryo are described. Which point of view described seems to match your own beliefs? What are the reasons you believe in this view? Are the reasons the same as those outlined in the document? After you have read through this, have any of your views changed? Are you reconsidering any of your beliefs?
Have fun making Mr. Stem Cell Guy differentiate into various types of cells in this interactive animation. Remember that although in the animation they show the signal for differentiation as blobs or chemicals entering the cell and activating certain genes, scientists are not sure exactly what the signals are that cause differentiation. Internal signals could contribute as well. Make sure you read the text in the yellow bar on the side, since it hold tons of good information.
Walk through this animation on the various types of stem cells and the amount of different specialized cell types they can turn into. Some of the stem cells types you learned about in this site, but there are also additional special types. Make sure you take the quiz at the end. Hint: you might even use some terms you learned in this site.
Take a look at this tutorial. It explains how stem cells are cultured in labs with visual illustrations. It also gives detailed information on how stem cells could help treat diabetes. What are some other diseases stem cells could treat? What types of cells would the stem cells have to be differentiated into to treat that disease?
This newspaper article from the Toronto Sun by writer Mark Bonokoski is about some of the first participants in stem cell therapy. They are two sisters who were injured in a car crash, and are now heading to Beijing to have experimental stem cell therapy done on their spinal cords. Consider about how new this research is and how much about it is still unknown. Do you think their risk in participating in this procedure before its well-established is good? Would you do the same if you were in their situation? Why is it that Canada does not seem to be the first to experiment with new medical procedures? Do you think this reservation is proper, or should Canada step forward and begin stem cell treatments as well? If Canada also wanted to use these medical procedures, do we even have the resources to do it?
