stem cells given a kick

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Categories: Comparisons

An example of metaphor in public science discourse:

MZ-G "So we take human embryonic stem cells, in which we induce expression of specific genes, to initiate programme of development that will recreate these two extra embryonic structures that we would like to put together with human embryonic stem cells."

RP: "So you give them a kind of genetic kick?"

MZ-G: "Yeah, we give them a kick to develop into the right orientation…"

Conversation on 'Science in Action'

Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz (University of Cambridge, and California Institute of Technology) was interviewed by Roland Pease for an episode ('Human embryo models') of BBC's Science in Action

[Please be aware that a word may have different nuances, or even a different meaning, according to context.]« Back to Index

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.