Educational Media Reviews Online

The subtitle of this film is An Interview with Alan Trounson, and that is all the viewer gets in this dull production. Dr. Trounson is an Australian scientist with a fascinating background; he was a pioneer in in vitro fertilization treatment for humans, and is now a leading figure in stem cell research. However, the bulk of the film consists of the camera focused on Trounson as he sits and talks in the same office, without even a change of camera angle! Once in a while the audience sees microscopic views of dividing cells or different cell types, but most of these are not labeled, leaving one to wonder what is happening in the footage. There are also a few live action scenes of cows and sheep because Trounson got his start in animal science.

The content is accessible for those who already know some cell and developmental biology. However, do not expect students to learn the content from the movie because there is not enough structure or visual material for teaching purposes. The interviewer asks Trounson to discuss the following topics: his background, early embryonic development, applications of genetics and epigenetics, triggering differentiation, adult and embryonic stem cells (therapeutic potential), basic research, developmental abnormalities and childhood cancers, and genomics and cell biology. The most substantial answer is Trounson’s answer about his background, which pulls in most of the other topics. Trounson does not discuss the ethical controversy surrounding stem cell research at all.

The film is definitely not recommended for students in senior high school or college because it would put them to sleep, plus does not provide enough detail for them to actually understand the laboratory techniques applied in stem cell research. Adults with a general interest in science are more likely to appreciate the interview format, and are less likely to care if they do not learn the scientific details of stem cells from the program.