Interested in Stem Cell Research?

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Interested in Stem Cell Research?
Frequently people dont realize they should be
interested in stem cell research. Many Americans
are interested in cures for cancer, treatment for
diabetes, and hope for spinal cord injuries, but
dont realize those conditions could all be
helped by advancements in stem cell research. If
you are interested in osteoporosis, diabetes, Lou
Gehrig, arthritis, Alzheimer's, birth defects,
spinal cord injuries, Parkinsons disease,
cancer, and heart disease, you answer the
question Interested in Stem Cell Research? with
I Am.

• I Am.

UNITE. SUPPORT. PROGRESS.
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What are stem cells?
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What are stem cells?
Stem Cells are unspecialized cells, which means
they dont have a specific function, unlike a
cell with a specific job like a heart cell, or
a muscle cell.

• Stem cells are unspecialized cells
•  

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What are stem cells?

• Stem cells are unspecialized cells
• Stem cells can differentiate and become another
  type of cell with a specialized function
•  

When stem cells divide they can differentiate to
have a specific function. For example, a stem
cell with no specific function can become a red
blood cell or an insulin-producing cell. These
cells can replenish without limit, replace
damaged cells, and thus can act as a repair
system to the body.
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What are stem cells?

• Stem cells are unspecialized cells
• Stem cells can differentiate and become another
  type of cell with a specialized function
• Stem cells replenish without limit
•  

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What are stem cells?

• Stem cells are unspecialized cells
• Stem cells can differentiate and become another
  type of cell with a specialized function
• Stem cells replenish without limit
• Stem cells act as a repair system to the body
•  

When stem cells divide they can differentiate to
have a specific function. For example, a stem
cell with no specific function can become a red
blood cell or an insulin-producing cell. These
cells can replenish without limit, replace
damaged cells, and thus can act as a repair
system to the body.
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What are stem cells?

• Stem cells are unspecialized cells
• Stem cells can differentiate and become another
  type of cell with a specialized function
• Stem cells replenish without limit
• Stem cells act as a repair system to the body
• Stem cells are being researched because they have
  the unique ability to replace damaged cells with
  healthy cells
•  

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What are stem cells?

• Stem cells are unspecialized cells
• Stem cells can differentiate and become another
  type of cell with a specialized function
• Stem cells replenish without limit
• Stem cells act as a repair system to the body
• Stem cells are being researched because they have
  the unique ability to replace damaged cells with
  healthy cells
• Scientists believe research will result in
  treatments and cures for diseases.
•  

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From the National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health, or NIH, is a
part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, which is the primary Federal agency for
conducting and supporting medical research.
This graph is an illustration from their
website that shows what research may positively
impact various areas.
http//stemcells.nih.gov/staticresources/info/medi
a/DSC_1185.jpg
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-Stem cell research only uses frozen embryos
created during in vitro fertilization. -In in
vitro fertilization, the fertilization process
happens in a laboratory, not in a womans
body. -First an egg is fertilized by a sperm,
-Once an egg has been fertilized it is termed a
zygote. -After the zygote undergoes cell
division and the entity has over 100 cells it is
called a blastula.
Where do stem cells come from?
HOW A BLASTOCYST IS CREATED
EGG
FERTILIZATION
ZYGOTE
BLASTULA
SPERM
.
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What happens to a blastocyst?
Note Relating to our discussion, NONE of this
occurs inside a woman. Stem cell research only
uses embryos created during in vitro
fertilization.
Ideally, blastocysts are used by infertile
couples to achieve healthy pregnancies.
EGG
-When blastocysts are created through in vitro
fertilization the infertile couple uses them, and
all the remaining extra blastocysts are
frozen. -When a couple doesnt want any more
children, remaining frozen eggs can be adopted,
thrown away, or can be used for stem cell
research. -Very few frozen embryos are wanted by
by other couples for adoption, leaving thousands
of unwanted embryos that can be thrown away or
used for stem cell research.
FERTILIZATION
BLASTULA
ZYGOTE
Extra Blastocysts can be used for stem cell
research.
SPERM
Extra Blastocysts unwanted by couples are frozen
Extra Blastocysts can be thrown away.
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The Moral Dilemma
What is the moral dilemma surrounding stem cell
research?
Misinformation deserves Clarification.
Stem cell research has sparked controversy and
debate about the ethics and morality of stem cell
research. With accurate information and
straightforward facts, most people find stem cell
research well within their moral and ethical
bounds.
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The Moral Dilemma What is the moral dilemma
surrounding stem cell research?
Stem cells are ONLY acquired by using extra
frozen embryos donated by couples who arent
using them. Current laws forbid women from
selling their eggs, and rumors of egg harvests
from women are entirely false. The ONLY mechanism
for acquiring blastocysts is through the donation
of ALREADY CREATED frozen blastocysts that would
otherwise be thrown away.
Misinformation deserves Clarification
Stem cell research is linked to abortion. FALSE
Embryonic stem cell research uses embryos that
were created through in vitro fertilization, are
no longer wanted, and would otherwise be
discarded. TRUE.
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The Moral Dilemma What is the moral dilemma
surrounding stem cell research?
Stem cell research uses therapeutic cloning, and
is often falsely linked with human cloning.
Cloning, which simply means making an identical
copy of something, is already being used in other
areas of science. Fear that advancements in
research will spin out of control is irrational.
Careful guidelines are absolutely necessary, but
management of stem cell research, like other
forms of research, is extremely manageable
through careful legislation.
Misinformation deserves Clarification
Stem cell research uses SCNT which will lead to
human cloning. FALSE The purpose of SCNT is to
obtain stem cells that genetically match a donor
so disease-specific stem cell lines can be
studied to better understand the disease. Strict
control of stem cell research will is extremely
manageable through careful legislation. TRUE.
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The Moral Dilemma What is the moral dilemma
surrounding stem cell research?
Misinformation deserves Clarification
There are thousands of unwanted frozen
blastocysts being thrown away all the time. It is
true that some couples have used the leftover
frozen blastocysts from other couples to achieve
pregnancy, however, thousands still go unused,
and the dilemma of what to do with them
remains. Option 1 throw extra blastocysts
away Option 2 used extra blastocysts for
life-saving research
Extra frozen blastocysts would be used by other
infertile couples if they werent used for stem
cell research. FALSE Very few frozen
blastocysts are adopted by other couples,
leaving thousands of extra frozen blastocysts
that can be thrown away, or used for stem cell
research.
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The Moral Dilemma What is the moral dilemma
surrounding stem cell research?
If you find yourself struggling because you dont
like the idea of either option, that may mean you
are against in vitro fertilization, NOT stem cell
research. Stem cell research simply uses the
leftovers from another procedure. Whether or
not you agree with in vitro fertilization, I
think we can all agree that by throwing away a
high-potential mini creation that already exists,
no one gains.
Misinformation deserves Clarification
Stem cell research only creates life to destroy
it. FALSE Stem cell research uses already
existing blastocysts from in vitro fertilization
that would otherwise be wasted. People often
mistake their objections with in vitro
fertilization for an objection to stem cell
research. TRUE.
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Regardless of what you think the moral status of
those embryos is, it makes more sense to me that
its a better moral decision to use them to help
people that just throw them out.
James Thomson
This is a quote from James Thomson, who in 1998
discovered a way to extract stem cells from a
human embryo, grow the cells, and keep them
alive.
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What is the decision to be made?
Opponents of stem cell research think using
already existing frozen blastocysts should NOT be
used for research. They believe that it is more
morally correct to throw the frozen blastocysts
away than use them for research. They believe
research on frozen blastocysts is destruction of
life and shouldnt be done. Opponents goal is to
protect frozen blastocysts.
Stem cell research is and will be a prevalent
debate on the federal level and in state
governments. Educated voters need to decide
whether they will vote as proponents or opponents
of stem cell research advancements. READ THIS
SLIDE AND NEXT
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What is the decision to be made?
Proponents of stem cell research think that
using frozen blastocysts for potentially
life-saving research is pro-life, and believe
that already existing blastocysts would be wasted
thrown in the trash when they could be better
used for research. Proponents goal is to protect
the millions of Americans with various diseases.
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What is the decision to be made?
My entire political career, I voted pro-life,
and that is exactly why I favor the stem cell
initiative. I believe in saving human life. I
want cures to be found. - john Danforth, an
ordained Episcopal priest and former Republican
United States Senator from Missouri.
Ordained priest and former Republican US Senator,
John Danforth often uses a digestible example
when he discusses why he supports stem cell
research. He says you need to look at stem cell
research like a house that is burning down. You
have an opportunity to run in and save a frozen
embryo in a Petri dish, or save three year old.
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Where is our government on this issue?
The current presidential administration has
curtailed efforts by placing restrictive bans on
embryonic stem cell research. On August 9th,
2001, President George W. Bush announced that
federal funds may only be awarded for research
using human embryonic stem cells if restrictive
criteria is met, which has severely hampered
research efforts. In 2005 and 2006 with The US
Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 the
US Congress tried to expand the number of stem
cell lines eligible for federal funding. This
initiative passed in both the House and Senate,
but was vetoed by President Bush. In 2006
President Bush decided that only research on stem
cell lines that were in existence on August 9,
2001 could receive federal funding. The
encouraging news is that both 2008 Presidential
candidates support embryonic stem cell research.
Hopefully a new administration will have a more
research-friendly political approach and allocate
more monetary resources for both adult stem cell
research and embryonic stem cell research.
The current presidential administration has
curtailed efforts by placing restrictive bans on
embryonic stem cell research, which has severely
hampered research efforts. In 2005 and 2006
with The US Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act
of 2005 the US Congress tried to expand the
number of stem cell lines eligible for federal
funding. This initiative passed in both the House
and Senate, but was vetoed by President Bush.
In 2006 President Bush decided that only
research on stem cell lines that were in
existence on August 9, 2001 could receive federal
funding. Both 2008 Presidential candidates
support embryonic stem cell research.
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So who is Interested in stem cell
research? The one million children with Juvenile
Diabetes 58 million people with heart disease 10
million people with osteoporosis 30,000 victims
of Lou Gehrigs Disease 4 million suffering from
Alzheimers disease 43 million arthritis
sufferers 250,000 people paralyzed by spinal cord
injuries 500,000 with Parkinsons disease 8.2
million people with cancer and their friends and
family. Too frequently people dismiss stem cell
research as something obscure and complicated
that doesnt affect them. Be it a grandmother
with Alzheimers, a brother with diabetes, or a
dear friend with cancer, we all know someone.
Were all interested.
Who is interested in stem cell research?
One million children with Juvenile Diabetes 58
million people with heart disease 10 million
people with osteoporosis 30,000 victims of Lou
Gehrigs Disease 4 million suffering from
Alzheimers disease 43 million arthritis
sufferers 250,000 people paralyzed by spinal cord
injuries 500,000 with Parkinsons disease 8.2
million people with cancer
When someone is diagnosed with a chronic
situation, they arent offered a cure, they are
offered hopeand that hope lies in stem cell
research. -Laura Merritt, founder of the I Am
organization.
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Moving Forward
Lack of information and inaccurate
information are the greatest obstacles to stem
cell research. It is absolutely imperative that
we as a pubic educate ourselves, vote smart,
share knowledge, and unite under a singular
banner to vocalize the importance of this
lifesaving research to our government.
Embryonic cell lines, embryonic stem cells, and
adult stem cells from umbilical cord blood or
bone marrow are all promising areas of stem cell
research that need to be invested in and explored
further to be of benefit to the millions of
Americans in need of cures. Contact your
government Representatives Bring I Am to your
community, club, church, or campus Donate Write
letters to your local paper Talk to friends and
family Open a dialogue between proponents and
opposition Spread the word about research that
could bring hope to millions of Americans.  
Education is the Key Vote Smart Share
Knowledge Unite Make Noise
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  There are many obstacles to be overcome between
the promise of stem cell research and the
discovery of cures. Only further, aggressive, and
intensive research will turn the hopes of 125
million Americans into a reality.
For many Americans, research is time sensitive.
Act now. Vocalize your support on local, state,
and federal levels. Progress cannot be made
unless our government makes life-saving research
a fiscal and policy priority in this country.
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Interested in Stem Cell Research?
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Interested in Stem Cell Research?
I Am.
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Interested in Stem Cell Research?
I Am.
UNITE. SUPPORT. PROGRESS.
Play the video to end the presentation. Encourage
them to visit IAmProStemCell.org