Have you ever seen a stem cell ‘in the flesh’? Do you know what the stem cell debate is all about? Are you ready to impress those around you with your knowledge of the stem cell issues? This is your opportunity. You will get to work with mouse stem cells in the laboratory and determine their fate. See the difference between embryonic and adult stem cells. Understand what this means for medicine in your lifetime. Debate who owns the stem cells which save lives and why we should care. Think through what this means for society and whether society is ready for the challenges ahead. Discuss the role of the media in this debate. You will come out the other end of this course with an understanding of your own position and an ability to defend it.
This course is designed to cover all aspects of the stem cell debate and provide you with not only a fundamental understanding of the underlying science but also the legal, societal and communication issues which make this such a challenging topic for our society. Course topics are covered at a level sufficient to convey the key principles without demanding specialist knowledge. This course will consist of lectures and laboratory sessions in January 2014. Students will then complete a written assignment.