Stem Cell Research 1. Introduction a. Attention-getter: b. Thesis: Today, I will persuade you to support stem cell research, because it holds the potential for great medical advancements. c. Credibility: I studied a lot of biology. Plus, I feel passionate about this issue. d. Relevance: In the future, our generation will be the one making medical breakthroughs and creating medical policy. Plus, we’ll all get old someday and possibly need medical treatments. e. Background: Stems cells are immature cells found in embryos that can develop into any kind of specialized cells (nih. gov). They can form virtually any cell of the human body i.

Example: stem cells can be transformed into liver cells, kidney cells, or heart cells f. Summary: I will tell you the main benefits of supporting stem cell research. Transition: Now you know some basics about stem cell research, let’s look at one of the benefits. 2. We can learn how major diseases work and eventually find cures. a. The transformation of stem cells into other cells can teach us about cells and how they develop. b. “A better understanding of normal cell development will allow us to understand and perhaps correct the errors that cause these medical conditions” like cancer and birth defects. 2) i. For example, on 4/26/10, NIH researchers found “bone generating stem cells in the spine” which can “yield insight into the formation of bone tumors” (3) ii. Another example: “Embryonic stem cells transform into specific brain cells” which “have clinical implications for Parkinson’s and other disorders” (4) iii. “Many diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus, result from the death or dysfunction of just one or a few cell types. The replacement of those cells could offer lifelong treatment “ (7) iv.

Examples of other diseases: 1. Alzheimer’s 2. Heart disease 3. Cancer 4. Diabetes c. Isn’t this amazing? Stem cell research is the bridge to new discoveries and cures. Not only can stem cells help us understand and solve the mysteries of diseases, but they can also help patients who suffer from injuries. 3. We can use stem cell research to help patients rebuild damaged tissues due to injury. a. Examples of injuries: organ damage and spinal cord injury i. Currently, the number of organ donors is greatly surpassed by the number of people who need transplants (2) ii.

We do not yet have this technology, but “Stem cells, taken from a cloned embryo of the subject, could be used to grow organs and remedy the organ donation problem” (2) b. Stem cells can repair organs and blood (spinal cord injuries, damaged organs) i. Stem cell transfusion helped save a little boy from sickle cell anemia (6) 1. This is called regenerative treatment. ii. “A protocol for …stem-cell transplantation that includes total-body irradiation … can reverse the sickle cell phenotype” (8) iii. NIH said that stem cells helped “improve the repair of major bone injuries in rats” (1). . The study said that “In summary, augmentation of stem cells derived from fetal and adult tissues significantly enhanced healing of large segmental bone defects” (1) c. Stem cells can repair faulty genes. i. Researchers did a study, in which they treated one group with cells and did nothing to the second group. “In this limited study the implantation of certain stem cells appears to confer benefit in the repair of osteonecrosis and in the prevention of collapse” Stem cell research not only help humans, but also our beloved animals. How many of you have pets? . Stem cell research can also help our pets. a. Horses with leg injuries b. Dogs with osteoarthritis c. Animal bodies work similarly to human bodies, so the benefits of stem cells work both ways Now that you know the benefits of stem cell research, you might be wondering, “What’s wrong with it? ” I believe there is nothing wrong with it, as you will see soon. 5. Destroying embryos for stem cell research may seem “immoral,” but the benefits outweigh the costs. Here’s the controversy, and my take on this issue. a. Problem 1: Embryos are human beings i.

However: embryos are cluster of cells less than a week old ii. They have no brains, no nerves, no feelings iii. Embryos are often donated or are leftovers from fertility clinics, which will be discarded anyways 1. NIH says that embryonic stem cells “develop from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro—in an in vitro fertilization clinic—and then donated for research purposes with informed consent of the donors. ” b. Even if you are opposed to embryonic stem cell research, why not consider alternatives? i. Stem cells from: 1. bone marrow 2. umbilical cord 3. blood ii.

However, keep in mind that these stem cells are not as effective as embryonic stem cells, because they can transform into fewer varieties of cells. 6. Conclusion a. Stem cell research has so many benefits and unknown potential in the future. b. Action steps: i. Support political candidates who believe in stem cell research 1. Example: Obama said: “[Medical miracles] result from painstaking and costly research – from years of lonely trial and error, much of which never bears fruit – and from a government willing to support that work” (5) when signing an executive order supporting this research. ii.

Study biology and get an internship at NIH 1. Great experience, and lets you contribute something to the medical world 2. www. nih. gov iii. SCR is a treasure chest of opportunities, and leaving it closed will do no good to humanity. Bibliography: Guldberg, R E, Kenneth Dupont, and Kapil Sharma. “Human stem cell delivery for treatment of large segmental bone defects. ” PNAS Early Edition http://www. pnas. org/content/early/2010/01/14/0905444107. abstract ser. 107. 8 (2009): 3305-3310. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. This is an online journal from the Proceedings of the National Academics of Sciences of the USA. Stem Cells and Diseases. ” The National Institutes of Health. National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services,, 2009. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. . “NIH study confirms location of stem cells near cartilage-rich regions in bones. ” EurekAlert News. N. p. , 26 Apr. 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. . McKay, R D. “Stem Cell Biology and Neurodegenerative Disease. ” Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences 359. 1445 (2004): 851-856. Print. “President Obama’s Speech on Stem Cell Executive Order. ” US News and World Report. N. . , 9 May 2009. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. . “Life-Saving Stem Cells – Discover, Learn, Share. ” Stem Cell Research Organization. 2010. 28 Apr. 2010. . Thomson, James, Sander Shapiro, and Jeffrey Jones. “Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Derived from Human Blastocysts . ” Science 282. 5391 (1998): 145-1147. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. . This is another online journal. Hsieh, M, E Kang, and C Fitzhugh. “Allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for sickle cell disease. ” The New England Journal of Medicine 301. 24 (2009): 2309-2317. Pubmed. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. .