Download Observing and Reflecting: Cell Specialization Name: Hour: ______

Observing and Reflecting: Cell Specialization
Name: ___________________________________________
Hour: _________
1. Check out the Gallery of Cells picture. Why do these cells look so different?
2. Watch the video “The Embryo Takes Shape”. What was the video about?
3. How does the information in the video relate to the different types of cells from the
picture in the first question?
4. So… how do cells know what type to turn into? Why do I not grow an eyeball on my
elbow or a liver in my nose? Well, let’s watch the “Genetic Toolkit” video. Once
done, try to answer how cells “know” what to turn into.
5. What is a stem cell (hint: think back to the article from an earlier day)?
6. Let’s watch the older video “Stem Cells: Seeds of Hope”. What could stem cells be
used for?
7. Not everything in that video was up-to-date. In 2003 some biologists were able to
create stem cells from “normal” cells like skin cells – they just were not as good as
embryonic ones at transforming. Why would this be a better option than using
embryos to get stem cells?
8. How do stem cells “know” what sort of cell to turn into?
9. What are your thoughts about all this? Is it cool humans know how to use cells like
this or freaky? Should we keep learning new ways to manipulate cells or just knock
it off? Explain!