Stem cells

Directions: Work through the worksheet by completing the

activities in order (use a different colour to add your answers).

Explore Your Task

● Learn genetics: Stem cells
● SciShow Stem cells clip
● The most expensive orchid (article)
● What can stem cells do? Clip
● Pros and cons in research
What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of
using stem cells in medicine?
Use these resources to explore the topic, then make a
note of your thoughts below:

Explain Your Task

View
View the … Lesson presentation
Watch
Watch the… Stem cell clip
Watch the …. SciShow Bananas clip
Read
Read the… BBC Bitesize pages 6 & 7
Read the… Paralysed mice walk after stem cell
injections (BioNews article)
Read the… Stem cells timeline (New Scientist
article)
1. Explain why the ability to clone large numbers
of individual plants is an advantage in plant
research and suggest how this may help save rare
species from extinction.
2. Identify the differences between a stem cell and
a somatic cell (normal body cell).
3. Identify the advantages of using stem cells to
treat diseases.

Apply (1) Your Task

1. First UK patient receives stem cell treatment Read each of the newspaper articles (☜) about stem
to cure loss of vision cell research and consider the quality and structure of
2. UK patient 'free' of HIV after stem cell the articles, then complete the table below (☟)
treatment
3. South Florida doctors starting trials of stem
cell treatment for severe COVID-19 cases
4. The risks behind the hype of stem-cell
treatments
5. Stem cell therapy for relapsing MS proves
effective and safe, study finds

Apply task 1
 Read each of the five articles and assess their quality as a piece of science writing by filling in the table. Give
each article a rating out of 10 for each of the questions.

Article 1 Article 2 Article 3 Article 4 Article 5

How grabbing is the headline? (0-10)

How well does the article (not

including the headline) capture and
hold your attention? (0-10)

How balanced and free of

exaggeration is the article? (0-10)

How much of the content do you feel

is backed up by an independent
expert? (0-10)

How would you rate the tone of the

article in terms of speaking to you at
your level? (0-10)

How would you rate the article’s

liveliness? (0-10)

How effectively has the work been

edited? (0-10)

How effectively are quotation marks

used? (If at all)? (0-10)

How effectively are punctuation and

paragraphs used? (0-10)

How effectively have openers and

connectives been used? (0-10)

Did the article leave you wanting to

know more? How much would you
say you now want to research more
about stem cells? (0-10)

Apply (2) Your Task

You can use any app/software (suggested: Google Carry out some further research then write an article in
Slides) to write your article- just remember to copy the style of a newspaper, magazine, or news website
the link and insert in this worksheet (do not about the uses of stem cells.
insert image)

Insert link to your article here:

 Extend
You can use any app/software you prefer to create
your poster (suggested Google slides or Canva)
just remember to download the image insert in this
worksheet.
Insert image here:
Your task
Research the different types of stem cells present in
humans and their uses in medical science. You will
present your findings as an information poster. You
should find answers to the following questions:
● What are the differences between totipotent,
pluripotent, and multipotent stem cells?
● What are the sources of stem cells in humans?
● How are stem cells currently used in medicine?
● What are induced pluripotent stem cells, and what
are the benefits they provide compared to current
stem cell therapies?