Answer “ALL” of following:

 Super Hero Stem Cells

1. One of the most controversial moral and ethical dilemmas of the President George W. Bush’s campaign to be re-elected focused on stem cells.  Stem cells have the ability to become or differentiate into any type of cell.  If you had the power to become a stem cell and have unlimited control of what you could become (real or imagined) what would your cell do?  Compare your cell to two normal cells in the body.  What do they do alike?  What do they do differently? 

For your second task, let’s apply what you have learned by studying the materials provided to you along with readings and/or videos from your own research.   Please discuss the following questions.  Be sure to properly cite your resources. 

2. The body has numerous amounts of cells.  Cells are the smallest living subunit of an organism.  Cells are made up by even smaller organelles.  For example the cilia of the trachea is psuedostratified squamous epithelium which means it  is flat, it has many layers like a stack of pancakes and has cilia on it.  The cilia function to sweep debris and pathogens into the highly acidic hydrochloric acid of the stomach where dust, debris and pathogens are dissolved.  Pick a cell in the body and tell the class what you like about its specializations.  What makes it unique and able to carry out its function?    

3. Now take it a step further and list your two favorite organelles. What are their functions? Why did you choose this organelle? 

4. In the United States we travel by air, sea, and of course land.  We have several ways to ship or transport goods from one place to another.  Companies like UPS, FEDEX, and the government itself transports goods all over the world.  Pick two of the following types of cellular transport (filtration, phagocytosis, pinocytosis, diffusion, active transport, facilitated diffusion and osmosis) and describe them.  What real life analogies can you make to these transport processes to help your class remember?