Persuasive Speech: Stem Cell Research In America

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1) You ever wonder if our generation could ever cure cancer or even give a paraplegic a chance to walk again? Stem cells could be a real answer to these questions.

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2) In case you’re wondering, stem cells are reproductive cells that adopt the qualities of the tissue that it is surrounded by thus becoming a part of the tissue itself. Stem cell research has generated new knowledge about basic cell system that is critical to understanding the causes of disease, such as cancer. These cells can come from various parts of a body however they are only categorized in two groups, adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Today I’ll be addressing the benefits of stem cell research and arguing for the acceptance of this medical research.

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3) Most of the critics of stem cell research say adult stem cells are as useful as embryonic stem cells. But numerous stem cell scientists agree that embryonic stem cells have the ability to create any cell type in the human body. Adult stem cells are more specialized; they generally make cells only from their tissue of origin. Thus, embryonic stem cells can do things that adult stem cells cannot do. To take full advantage of the chances of discovering new cures, it is important to pursue research on both embryonic and adult stem cells.

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4) Another issue peope argue against is that embryonic stem cell research uses embryos that have begun to develop as babies. This is not quite the case, scientist from University of Michigan's stem cell research program say "stem cells are dervied from blastocysts that have only developed for about five days after fertilization. The blastocysts used for this research develop entirely in laboratory dishes in fertility clinics and are never implanted in a woman's uterus. These early stage embryos consist of about 100 cells and are the size of the period at the end of a sentence. At this stage, the cells have no nervous system, no heart, no limbs, and no specialized human tissues."

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5) The research of stem cells has given rise to new achievements in the practice of medicine. As a result new procedures and treatments have derived from this research. Stem cells can be used to treat several disorders and illnesses through gene therapy. For example people who are diagnosed with cancer or leukemia have to go through treatments in which they are exposed to large amounts of radiation in order to kill the rapidly dividing cancer cells, however using this treatment also kills the cells that are responsible for a healthy immune system. In this case doctors would use stem cells to replace and help recover the cells killed from the exposure of radiation. In another treatment stem cells are being used in clinical trials to help recover and “restore” the cells of a heart after it has been through a heart attack.

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6) Although stem cells are only in the “research stages” of medical use, researchers believe that through the continued research of these cells they would eventually discover treatments that would provide a great impact on practice of medicine and in people’s lives. It is speculated that stem cells can be used to regenerate and cure damaged and infected brain cells. Disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease would be treated by using brain stem cells to awaken the dormant spinal cells that would then migrate to the brain and repair the damaged or infected section of the brain. It is also speculated that the use of stem cells would be able to “cure” paraplegia and quadriplegia due to the damage or severed spinal cord. Finally researchers believe that continued research of stem cells would eventually reveal the cause of autism and schizophrenia.

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7) Despite the ethical and moral factors that bind the research of stem cells, I do believe that this can be promising and beneficial aid to the medical field. Most Americans, regardless of their religious or political affiliation, support embryonic stell cell research. A 2007 study published in Science surveyed infertility patients who had embryos stored at fertility clinics. The study found 60% of the patients expressed willingness to donate embryos for stem cell research, compared to 28% who were willing to donate unused embryos to other patients seeking fertility treatment.

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8) With the acceptance of stem cell research disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and even autism and schizophrenia wouldn’t be major problems of this society. Even the most sever spinal injuries would mean that a person is still able to live a normal life.