What people have said...
"Fantastic, it kept year 11 transfixed and really got discussion underway"Read more feedback and reviews
Order DVDs
You can order the Stem Cell Stories 2-disc DVD set online.Five short videos and a feature documentary about different aspects of stem cell science, ethics, cell culture and cloning. Use the numbered links below to jump straight to the film you are interested in.
Watch the films now
NEW! Stem cells - the future: an introduction to iPS cells
A stem cell story- award-winning 15 min intro to stem cell research
Conversations: ethics, science, stem cells
Cell culture
Dolly and beyond - featuring Sir Ian Wilmut
See also: Stem Cell Revolutions
This 70 minute documentary by the creators of A Stem Cell Story was announced the winner of the Best Documentary award at Vedere la Scienza Festival 2012 and features Nobel prizewinners Shinya Yamanaka and John Gurdon - watch a clip here. The film charts the history and scientific evolution of stem cell research – from the earliest experiments that first revealed stem cells in the body, to leading current scientific and clinical developments.
Visit the Stem Cell Revolutions website for more information about the film.
NEW! Stem cells - the future: an introduction to iPS cells
Released November 2012 In this compelling and clear 16 minute video, leading scientists tell the story of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). This extraordinary scientific discovery changed the way we think about human biology and saw Shinya Yamanaka awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine, with John Gurdon, in 2012. Full details about this film, including a quick quiz to support classroom use, can be found on our Toolkit page. |
A stem cell story: award-winning 15 minute video introduction to stem cell research
Watch this film in other language versions: Click the "turn on captions" button to view versions with subtitles in:
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What are stem cells? Where do they come from? And what do we really know about them? This 15-minute film provides an engaging, accessible and visually stunning introduction to the world of stem cell research. Innovative hand-drawn animation, beautiful cell photography and documentary interviews capture the fascination and complexity of this cutting-edge area of science.
Related stem cell activities and resources
- Quick Quiz on the key concepts described in A Stem Cell Story
- Stem cell toolkit of tried and tested educational tools and resources, many available in several European languages
- Extensive directory of stem cell resources
Awards, festivals and reviews
- Best TV/video production, Tromsø Science Media Festival
- Best short film, Scinema (Australia)
- In competition, Science Film Festival (Bangkok), BaKaFORUM 2007, Vedere la Scienza
- Recommended by Scottish government agency Learning and Teaching Scotland as a tool for National Qualifications support
- Read audience feedback and reviews
Downloads
Download a transcript (English) of the film in PDF format (118Kb)
Conversations: ethics, science, stem cells
The film is available with subtitles in other languages:
Click on the "Captions" button to select a subtitle. |
Human embryonic stem cell lines are generated from blastocysts - early human embryos. But what are blastocysts, and when does personhood begin? What justifies research? Doctors, scientists, ethicists, theologians and a patient bring their different points of view, in this thought-provoking exploration of the ethical issues surrounding stem cell research.
This 19-minute film aims to encourage open debate about the ethical issues around stem cell research. It is structured in chapters, each addressing a key ethical question.
Awards and festivals
In competition, Science Film Festival (Bangkok)
Further reading
EuroStemCell fact sheets on:
Review articles by Kristina Hug, exploring in more depth some of the issues raised in the "Conversations..." film. These articles were written as part of a project and workshop series on ethical and societal issues related to stem cell research for the original EuroStemCell.
- Therapeutic perspectives of human embryonic stem cell research versus the moral status of a human embryo – does one have to be compromised for the other? (PDF file, 393 KB)
- Sources of human embryos for stem cell research: ethical problems and their possible solutions (PDF file, 430KB)
Cell culture
The film is available with subtitles in other languages:
Click on the "Captions" button to select a subtitle. |
This six-minute film takes a closer look at how and why scientists grow stem cells in the lab. With the same visual style that makes A Stem Cell Story so appealing, this film's mix of timelapse photography, live action and hand-drawn animation transports viewers into the cell culture lab. Ideal for senior biology classes.
Dolly and beyond
How was Dolly the sheep made? Are there different kinds of cloning? What are their implications? Scientists, doctors and philosophers address these questions with particular emphasis on the ethics of cloning. Featuring Dolly creator Sir Ian Wilmut. The film is available with subtitles in other languages:
Click on the "Captions" button to select a subtitle. |
Related resources:
- FAQ about cloning
- What is cloning and click & clone: activities in our resource directory
- SCNT flow chart