Assignment

For this project you will investigate the use of stem cells and treatment of two disorders, diseases, or dysfunctions of cell structures of your choice. Some examples include a specific cancer, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease. Your main goal is to gain insight into how these diseases/disorders affect the cell structure but ultimately how they disrupt the entire anatomy. Choose two diseases, disorders, or mutations and address the following questions for each. Please do not pick general diseases such as "cancer". If you would like to research cancer please pick a particular type of cancer such as Acancer or tleukemia. Also, please write TWO separate essays, one on each disease or disorder.

1.What it is you're researching? Give a description and overview of each choice. What specific genes AND cells are affected?

2.How common is this disease or disorder? Is there stem cell therapy available for this disease/disorder? If so, explain the current use of the stem cell therapy?

3.What type of treatment is available AND what is the outcome/life expectancy for the patient under normal circumstances if treatment is sought?

4.Is this disease/disorder/dysfunction concentrated in certain parts of the world? OR Does this disease/disorder/dysfunction mainly affect a certain ethnicity?

5.State and explain the medical findings on why researchers have concluded this disease/disorder/dysfunction is concentrated in a certain part of the world or affects a certain ethnicity.

6.What type of research is currently under way to reduce or eliminate this disease/disorder/dysfunction? ***Please Note*** this is different than indicating if stem cell therapy is or is not available. Provide a discussion and cite your source regarding current research.

Informational Essay

You will write an informational essay based on the previous five questions. You are not restricted to just those five questions if additional information is needed to provide further explanation.

Your essay will be submitted either as a Word document (.doc) or Adobe Reader file (.pdf). Your essay should be a minimum of 700 words per essay (per disease). Cite your sources using correct format and use only highly trusted resources from the Internet and your local library. Use the following citation link to help format your citations, or look up APA style at the library or online. You are not limited in the number of sources you use, but are required to use at least three different sources. Your textbook is a great start.