Topics for Discussion

EXERCISES:

Have students conduct research on the Internet, in the library, or by interviewing a scientist/researcher, and then report on the following points.

• Background of the researcher(s) involved in the breakthrough.
• Animal model(s) used in the research.
• How the research has led to a better understanding of the condition or illness.
• The benefits of this medical advance to the community; the country; the world.

Have them interview a family member who has benefited from biomedical research

Have students choose a disease or condition to report on, such as:

Acute lymphocytic leukemia AIDS Arthritis Cancer Cystic fibrosis

Cataracts Diabetes Heart Disease Muscular Dystrophy Stroke

Have them report briefly on the following points by doing on-line research or by interviewing a scientist / researcher on the topic:

A description of the disease or disorder. Names of biomedical researchers involved in the investigation of the disease. The cause of the disease and how it was determined. How widespread the disease is.

The status of understanding of the disease today. The animal model(s) used in the research. Single-disease groups which support efforts to eliminate the disease.

Have the students respond briefly to the following questions:

1. How did animals contribute to the development of early vaccines?
2. Name some medical devices made possible by biomedical research through the use of animal models.
3. How did penicillin come into being? What was the role of animals in the development of this antibiotic? How has penicillin improved the lives of people and animals?
4. What is poliomyelitis? At what time in our history was polio a threat to people's health? When was a vaccine developed? How was it developed? What role did animals play in its development?
5. What is diabetes? How has the discovery of insulin improved the quality of life for people living with diabetes? What role did animals play in this discovery?
6. What is cardiology? What are some of the advances in cardiology and cardiac surgery which we have witnessed in the last twenty five years? What roles did animals play in the development of these advances?
7. In which year was the first successful heart transplant performed.
8. Who was the pioneer of organ transplantation? Can you list at least eight (8) organs which are now used in transplantation? What role did animals play in the development of organ transplant techniques?
9. As of 1998, how many centres worldwide do transplantation for: kidney? liver? heart? bone-marrow?
10. As of 1998, how transplants worldwide were done for: kidney? liver? heart? bone-marrow?
11. What drug has made organ transplantation possible by helping to prevent organ rejection? How does this drug work?
12. What is leukemia? How has biomedical research increased the survival rate of children with leukemia? What role did animals play?
13. What are monoclonal antibodies? How have they been used as tools for biomedical investigation? What role have animals played in their development as a useful research tool?

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Topics for Research Essays

• Relation between bacteria and disease (Robert Koch, Nobel Prize-winning research).
• Rabies immunization (Louis Pasteur).
• Discovery of insulin (Frederick Banting, Charles Best, Nobel Prize-winning research).
• Development of the polio vaccine (Jonas Salk, Albert Sabin).
• Development of the artificial kidney machine (William Kolff).
• Kidney transplantation (Joseph Murray, Nobel Prize-winning research).
• Heart transplantation (Norman Shumway, Christiaan Barnard).
• Liver transplantation (Paul Russell).
• Interaction between tumor viruses and genetic material (David Baltimore, Richard Temin, Nobel Prize-winning research).
• Processing of visual information by the brain (David Hubel, Torsten Wiesel, Nobel Prize-winning research).