Speaking Outline
Thesis: Embryonic stem cells are the future of medicine in both preventing and curing some of our deadliest diseases.
Overview of Points: I am going to tell you how embryonic stem cells can be used to cure diabetes. Then I will discuss the current policies our president has instated and what I feel the rules and regulations should be. I will then bring it back home at the end.
(Home is an ironic word, because that is where my first interest in embryonic stem cells occurred.)
Body:
I.
My cousin, Becky Norris, graduated from the
a. But back in 1998, she worked side by side with Professor James Thomson.
b. Professor Thomson was the first man to successfully capture and culture embryonic stem cells in this country.
c. Since then, Becky, with the help of Professor Thomson, have done research on numerous diseases and have shown that there are potential cures for diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, amputations, and even severe burns. (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
(Thomson’s findings traveled up to
II.
Just one year after Thomson’s findings, researchers in
a. While it is still in it’s very early stages, they have shown vast improvements on previous techniques used to treat diabetes using adult stem cells.
b.
This process, known as the Edmonton Protocol, has
trickled down into the
(The basic idea of the Edmonton Protocol is not very complicated.) (New York Times Online)
III. A series of injections are done on a diabetic to reduce or eliminate the need for daily external insulin dosages.
a. This essentially means diabetics produce insulin on their own and not through an artificial source.
b. No more needles. No more pumps. No more worrying.
c. Major surgery is not involved in the process.
A. Local anesthesia is used to subdue the patient.
B. A long thing needle and X-Rays are used to find the main blood vessel in the liver, where the cells will be implanted.
1. The type of cells implanted is known as islet cells, which are the insulin producing cells from the pancreas.
2. The cells are implanted into the liver because tests have shown that the liver regenerates itself better, thus forming a solid blood vessel around the cells.
C. Once the cells are implanted into the liver, they immediately begin producing insulin and sending it through the blood vessels.
D. A second implantation is done over the course of a month and most patients stay in the hospital for a day or two.
(It is that second implantation, though, that makes embryonic cells necessary)
IV. The amount of diabetics needing islet cell transplants far outweighs the amount of available donor pancreases. (National Institute of Health)
a. There are only about 6,000 pancreases donated each year.
b. Compared to the 13 million diabetics, this number makes impossible to cure so many diabetics.
c. That is why embryonic stem cells are a must to successfully treat all diabetics, and the rest of the disease-ridden society.
A. The beautiful thing about embryonic stem cells is that you can create any of the 220 types of tissues and cells in the human body.
B. We can see the process of embryonic stem cells to show how the islet cells can be derived from a single embryo. (Go To Graph)
C. These could then be used over a course of multiple implantations, with no worry about rejection, because the islet cells are taken from the same source.
(Unfortunately, embryonic islet cell transplantations will have to be put on hold)
V. While advancements in embryonic stem cell research was growing by leaps and bounds, a 2001 regulation by George Bush set the science back very far. (Whitehouse.gov)
a. He banned any new research or funding on any new lines past the 60 already found. In actuality, there are only between 11 and 22 lines.
b. He only gave $25 million to research, which was mainly given to one research group, making needed funds for smaller labs and colleges obsolete.
c. And he based his decision on his deeply held beliefs.
d. He bringing his ideology into the scientific policies is something I do not agree with at all.
(That is why I feel a newer, more complete policy should be enacted)
VI.
My plan combines aspects of John Kerry’s stem cell
policy and a current proposal by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
(
a. The first and foremost part is to lift any and all bans and new cell lines being created.
b. I feel there is no room to grow in this science without lifting said bans.
c. As far as spending goes, Governor Schwarzenegger has Proposition 71 on the floor.
A.
This would give the state of
B.
Passing this bill will greatly enhance the amount of money
given to labs and colleges who do incredible work, as shown by the work at the
d.
I then want to have direct connections with countries
like
(We can put the ideology aside and do what we do best- lead the world in science and technology)
Conclusion:
York Times 11 July 2001. 01 Nov. 2004
<http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0B15FD345C0C728DDDAE0894D9404482&incamp=archive:search>.
VERGANO, DAN. "Embryonic Imbroglio." USA TODAY. 27 Oct 2004. 01 Nov. 2004
Remarks
by the President on Stem Cell Research. 09 Aug. 2001.
Whitehouse.gov. 01 Nov. 2004
< http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/08/20010809-2.html>.
NIH
Funds Centers to Study Islet Cell Transplantation. 04 Oct. 2004. National
Embryonic Stem Cell Research. 01 Nov. 2004. University of Wisconsin-Madison. 01 Nov. 2004 <http://www.news.wisc.edu/packages/stemcells>.
Scitech- Playing God.
01 Nov. 2004.