SEMINAR TOPIC FOR WEEK FOUR AND SEVEN: MIKE’S GROUPWe will be exploring the bioethics and the interaction of public policy and stem cell research through a case study and simulated senate debate.WEEK FOUR: Students will prepare to discuss the movie seen on week two. IN ADDITION, STUDENTS NEED TO DO PRELIMINARY BACKGROUND READING FOR WEEK SEVEN SEMINARS:- reading a case about Christopher Reeves: http://www.sciencecases.org/superman_ethics/superman_ethics.asp - reading a brief synopsis of the biology of stem cells: http://www.sciencecases.org/superman_ethics/primer.asp- background reading on viewpoints from stem cell researchers and the Bush administration: http://www.isscr.org/public/ethics.htmhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/08/20010809-1.htmlAfter discussing the movie during the week four seminar students will be randomly assigned to the following four groups:Group #1 will be the “Stem Cell Researchers,” Group #2 will be “Ethicists from the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC),” Group #3 will be “Right-to-Life Committee Members,” Group #4 will be the “Senators.” Each group has a particular set of biases/beliefs. Each subgroup will collaboratively create a list of biases they believe their respective group would hold regarding stem cell research and its funding. The list needs to contain their group’s position regarding stem cell research (positive/negative/mixed) and a rationale for their stated position. You must get into the mindset of the particular groups, regardless of your own opinions.Students will then be distributed “official bias sheets” separately to each group.WEEK FIVE: Each group will: (1) exam these lists; (2) discuss the differences between them and the lists they generated; and (3) create a final list for their group that combines the best features of both lists, according to group consensus.Each group (“researcher,” “ethics,” and “right-to-life”) will need to appoint a spokesperson to argue their viewpoint to the “senator” group.WEEK SIX: As part of formulating their position, each of these three groups will select two questions that they will submit to the “senators” who, in turn, will ask these questions to the other groups during each spokesperson’s presentation. While the “researcher,” “ethics,” and “right-to-life” groups are formulating their positions, students in the “senators” group need to develop a list of questions they would like to ask each of the groups during their presentations. The senators will pick a chairperson for their group. The “researcher,” “ethics,” and “right-to-life” groups will get copies of the “senators” bias sheet so these groups are aware of the Senate’s position, as they would be in a real Senate hearing.WEEK SEVEN SEMINAR: During seminar, we simulate a normal senate hearing on the topic of stem cell research. The senators will sit up front (like a normal Senate hearing) and run the hearing as they see fit (At the hearing, the “researcher,” “ethics,” and“right-to-life” groups will present their arguments to the “senators” group on their group’s position (since they have copies of the “senators” sheet, they know something about their audience). At the end of each group spokesperson’s presentation, the senators will ask each group their own questions, as well as the questions submitted by the other two groups (two questions per group). It is important that the “senators” group understands the key concepts, for its members will be responsible for making and justifying the final decision to increase, decrease, or maintain funding for stem cell research.At the end of the hearing, the senators will vote on what direction the Senate will take and create a brief outline to present to the President on this issue. The vote should be based on the strength of the argument made by the presenting groups. The senators can vote either to (1) increase federal funding for stem cell research, which includes expanding research beyond the President’s present position; (2) maintain the President’s current position; or (3) decrease federal funding for stem cell research, which includes limiting stem cell research further than the President’s current position.We will conclude, with a group discussion of this process and the issues that were presented during the hearing, with a particular focus on