Story: Dogs May Lead Doctors to Discover Why People Get Cancer, 04/04/07
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june07/cancer_4-04.html

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. Why are thoroughbred dogs useful in the study of cancer?

2. How can the study of cancer in dogs help people who have cancer?

3. What is another advantage of studying cancer in dogs?

4. How is cancer research in dogs different than cancer research in other animals, such as mice?

5. Compare a cancer vaccine for dogs to one for humans.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. The research mentions working with thoroughbred, or purebred dogs. Why can't non-thoroughbred dogs be used in this research?

2. Create a chart that includes animals used in medical research: mice, rabbits, dogs, monkeys, humans. In your chart, list advantages ("How are these animals like humans?") and disadvantages ("How are these animals unlike humans?") and the diseases that are commonly studied using the animals.

3. Find an article published in a peer-reviewed journal (such as Science, Nature, or the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) on cancer research that uses an animal "model." Then, write a short report on the article that:
a) describes the type of cancer the research group is trying to cure, treat or prevent,
b) lists the animal species involved in the study, and
c) explains how this research could affect human health and when the treatment might be available to the general population.

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.