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Catalyst: When does life begin?

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A person looks through a microscope
Catalyst: When does life begin?

SUBJECTS:  Science, Technologies

YEARS:  9–10


The use of embryonic stem cells for medical research is a hotly debated ethical issue, with much of the discussion focusing on when human life begins.

Listen to the views both of scientists and of some people from several faith traditions.

In a major stem-cell breakthrough, scientists have discovered a new type of stem cell that may remove the need for embryonic stem cells.


Things to think about

  1. 1.What do you know about the ethical debate surrounding stem cell research? What are stem cells used for in medical research and treatment? At what stage does an embryo develop into a foetus and how do embryos differ from foetuses?
  2. 2.Most Reverend Anthony Fisher OP describes his excitement at the discovery of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. What is the reason for his excitement? How many days after conception do stem cells accumulate in the inner cell mass? Embryos only develop into a foetus after implantation. How does the narrator describe an embryo before implantation? Note the views about when life begins as expressed in the clip by the scientists and the people of the three faiths.
  3. 3.Compile a list or table that summarises the views on when life begins, as presented in the clip both by the people of each faith and by the scientists. Does each speaker support or oppose embryonic stem cell research? Explain why stem-cell research raises important ethical considerations, and how the discovery of iPS cells has affected discussion of the issue.
  4. 4.The adoption of new technologies in medical research and procedures often raises ethical issues and concerns in the broader community. Find out about the ethical debate surrounding another innovation in medicine such as cloning, gene therapy or genetic engineering.



Date of broadcast: 4 Aug 2010


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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