All Groups This link has something for each group. Please view it before moving on.
Stem Cells
Cells in different parts of your body are often very different from one another. A brain cell looks and acts differently than a muscle cell, for example. Think of stem cells as clay that can be molded into any kind of cell your body needs. Once it is molded, though, it can never go back. This is called DIFFERENTIATING.
The University of Utah - Check out the quick reference first, then explore the rest of the website especially the debate section You Tube - A really good video on what stem cells are. It is made for uninformed college students, which honestly aren't that much smarter than you are. KidsHealth - Site has basics, but some hard words cannot be avoided. CLICK CONTINUE at the bottom of the page for more info. DiscoveryNews Article - A short article on the possibilities of growing human stem cells inside of other organisms. In the middle of the article is a link to some pictures (with captions!) about 10 ways scientists have used human-animal hybrids. PBS Learning Media - This links to a slideshow that explains 1) where stem cells come from, 2) how they are used to create different kinds of cells, and 3) how scientists and doctors might someday use them to treat damaged organs and tissues.
Gene Therapy The University of Utah - Check out "What is Gene Therapy" first then explore the other parts of the website, especially the challenges, issues and the link below. You Tube - Weird video about treating Cystic Fibrosis (CF) with gene therapy. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder where a person's lungs produce too much mucus. It always leads to death, usually in the late teens or early twenties. You Tube - Another gene therapy video with some good info. You Tube - Gene Therapy to treat eye injuries. KidsHealth - Site has basics, but some hard words cannot be avoided. CLICK CONTINUE at the bottom of the page for more info. Cloning The University of Utah - Check out "What is Cloning" first then explore the other parts of the website, especially the risks, issues and myths sections You Tube- bit boring, but it has the basics of cloning. Academic Kids - Lots of info. StudentScience - This article is a little old, but has some really useful information on the process of cloning as well as many pros and cons. Click and Clone - A fun, but noisy!, way to learn how cloning is done. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Transgenic Crops - Parts of the article have more detail than we need to go into but it has a pretty good overview how genetic recombination works with plants
These two sites have a very clear objective but have some good information: Transgenic Tomato Action Bio Science You Tube (GMO Part I) - Cute and poetic, this video teaches what GMO is. This is just part I. Look for parts 2 and 3 for more info. Academic Kids - Lots of info. PBS Learning Media - This little mini-game will help you understand how genes are taken from one organism and added to another. In this case, a herbicide (chemical that kills plants) is added totomato plants so that it will not die when sprayed with the chemical. Designer Babies You Tube - A good video about the controversies surrounding Designer Babies. Insight - A very long video with really good information. You will not watch the whole thing, but you can get a lot of good info from watching little pieces of it. How Stuff Works - CLICK KEEP READING for more. Lots of information, but you need to sift through hard concepts. Designer Baby Weebly - How designer babies are made. Ethics of Designer Babies
This link has something for each group. Please view it before moving on.
Stem Cells
Cells in different parts of your body are often very different from one another. A brain cell looks and acts differently than a muscle cell, for example. Think of stem cells as clay that can be molded into any kind of cell your body needs. Once it is molded, though, it can never go back. This is called DIFFERENTIATING.
The University of Utah - Check out the quick reference first, then explore the rest of the website especially the debate section
You Tube - A really good video on what stem cells are. It is made for uninformed college students, which honestly aren't that much smarter than you are.
KidsHealth - Site has basics, but some hard words cannot be avoided. CLICK CONTINUE at the bottom of the page for more info.
DiscoveryNews Article - A short article on the possibilities of growing human stem cells inside of other organisms. In the middle of the article is a link to some pictures (with captions!) about 10 ways scientists have used human-animal hybrids.
PBS Learning Media - This links to a slideshow that explains 1) where stem cells come from, 2) how they are used to create different kinds of cells, and 3) how scientists and doctors might someday use them to treat damaged organs and tissues.
Gene Therapy
The University of Utah - Check out "What is Gene Therapy" first then explore the other parts of the website, especially the challenges, issues and the link below.
You Tube - Weird video about treating Cystic Fibrosis (CF) with gene therapy. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder where a person's lungs produce too much mucus. It always leads to death, usually in the late teens or early twenties.
You Tube - Another gene therapy video with some good info.
You Tube - Gene Therapy to treat eye injuries.
KidsHealth - Site has basics, but some hard words cannot be avoided. CLICK CONTINUE at the bottom of the page for more info.
Cloning
The University of Utah - Check out "What is Cloning" first then explore the other parts of the website, especially the risks, issues and myths sections
You Tube- bit boring, but it has the basics of cloning.
Academic Kids - Lots of info.
StudentScience - This article is a little old, but has some really useful information on the process of cloning as well as many pros and cons.
Click and Clone - A fun, but noisy!, way to learn how cloning is done.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
Transgenic Crops - Parts of the article have more detail than we need to go into but it has a pretty good overview how genetic recombination works with plants
These two sites have a very clear objective but have some good information:
Transgenic Tomato
Action Bio Science
You Tube (GMO Part I) - Cute and poetic, this video teaches what GMO is. This is just part I. Look for parts 2 and 3 for more info.
Academic Kids - Lots of info.
PBS Learning Media - This little mini-game will help you understand how genes are taken from one organism and added to another. In this case, a herbicide (chemical that kills plants) is added totomato plants so that it will not die when sprayed with the chemical.
Designer Babies
You Tube - A good video about the controversies surrounding Designer Babies.
Insight - A very long video with really good information. You will not watch the whole thing, but you can get a lot of good info from watching little pieces of it.
How Stuff Works - CLICK KEEP READING for more. Lots of information, but you need to sift through hard concepts.
Designer Baby Weebly - How designer babies are made.
Ethics of Designer Babies