STEM CELL RESEARCH MAKING THE SACRIFICE THE HOPE

STEM CELL RESEARCH MAKING THE SACRIFICE

THE HOPE • CURE FOR IMPERVIOUS GENETIC DISEASE • ALZHEIMER’S • PARKINSON’S • DIABETES • REPAIR FOR INJURIES • SPINAL CORD INJURY • HEART MUSCLES

NATURE OF STEM CELLS • CELLS DEVELOP SPECIALIZATIONS • EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT • ORGANS • PLURIPOTENT • EARLY IN EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT • 64 CELLS • CAN BECOME ANY TYPE OF CELL

SSOURCE OF STEM CELLS • EMBRYONIC • ALL CELLS BEFORE SPECIALIZATION • ADULT STEM CELLS • SKIN • LIPIDS • RESEARCH LINES DEVELOPED FROM SOURCE. • HOW LONG WILL THEY LAST?

TECHNIQUE • BREAK THE “WHOLE” APART • DESTRUCTION OF THE “WHOLE” • DESTRUCTION OF THE EMBRYO • HARVEST THE STEM CELLS • CULTIVATE THEM • REPRODUCE THEMSELVES • ADJUST THE REGULATORY MECHANISMS • PRODUCE DESIRED CELLS • TRANSFER INTO DAMAGED TISSUE

ETHICAL ISSUES • DESTRUCTION OF EARLY EMBRYO • BEFORE DIFFERENTIATION • ABORTION = ALL RELATED ISSUES • SACRIFICE “LIFE” FOR THERAPY • UTILITARIAN CALCULATION • RECEIVING BENEFIT FROM STEM CELL RESEARCH

POLITICS • G. W. BUSH • STOPPED FEDERAL FUNDING OF DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CELL LINES – AUGUST 10, 2001 • MORALLY RELEVANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRE 8/10 AND POST-8/10? • EMBRYOS ALREADY DESTROYED? • IMPOSITION OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS? • CALIFORNIA • $3 BILLION FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH • WILL OF THE PEOPLE • OTHER NATIONS