Right to RecoverRight to Recover

Winning the Political and Winning the Political and Religious Wars over Stem Cell Religious Wars over Stem Cell

Research in AmericaResearch in America

The WarThe War

Religious control Religious control

PoliticsPolitics

MoneyMoney

It’s not about destroying embryosIt’s not about destroying embryos

The war is over cells in a lab dish

The Victims The Victims

American economyAmerican economy

US reputation in worldUS reputation in world

This is who it affects mostThis is who it affects most

Those advocating for public funding Those advocating for public funding for blastocystic researchfor blastocystic research

Why do people oppose blastocystic Why do people oppose blastocystic stem cell research?stem cell research?

They are ignorant about the They are ignorant about the science/biology behind the researchscience/biology behind the research

Religious and political leaders have Religious and political leaders have swayed people to believe that an embryo swayed people to believe that an embryo is being destroyedis being destroyed

Those who oppose the researchThose who oppose the research

The debate is fueled by a small but verbal minority of The debate is fueled by a small but verbal minority of conservative religious lobbying organizations:conservative religious lobbying organizations:

Christian Coalition Christian Coalition Concerned Women for America Concerned Women for America Coral Ridge Ministries (D. James Kennedy) Coral Ridge Ministries (D. James Kennedy) Family Research Council (J. Dobson, David Prentice)Family Research Council (J. Dobson, David Prentice)Focus on the Family (James Dobson) Focus on the Family (James Dobson) Religious Freedom Coalition Religious Freedom Coalition Southern Baptist Convention Southern Baptist Convention U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Phyllis Schlafly groups—led opposition to ERA) Phyllis Schlafly groups—led opposition to ERA) National Right to Life Committee National Right to Life Committee Senator Sam BorwnbackSenator Sam BorwnbackSusan B. Anthony List Susan B. Anthony List

A Biblical PerspectiveA Biblical Perspective

byby

Reverend Dan BloodworthReverend Dan Bloodworth

Graduate of Rhema Bible College Graduate of Rhema Bible College

Evangelist to all denominationsEvangelist to all denominations

Blastocystic Stem Cell AdvocateBlastocystic Stem Cell Advocate

18 years of research on stem cells18 years of research on stem cells

Available to speak to your group Available to speak to your group

A blastocyst has undifferentiated cells that A blastocyst has undifferentiated cells that could become any cell in the body. could become any cell in the body.

The ScienceThe Science

Three Types of Stem CellsThree Types of Stem Cells

Totipotent cells, which can develop into any type Totipotent cells, which can develop into any type of cell in the body. of cell in the body.

Pluripotent cells, which are undergoing a Pluripotent cells, which are undergoing a process of differentiation that changes them into process of differentiation that changes them into multipotent cells) multipotent cells)

Multipotent cells, which give rise to cells that Multipotent cells, which give rise to cells that have a particular function. These “adult” stem have a particular function. These “adult” stem cells are only able to reproduce more cells of like cells are only able to reproduce more cells of like kind.kind.

Features of a BlastocystFeatures of a Blastocyst

A cluster with 16 to 32 cellsA cluster with 16 to 32 cells

Has an inner core and outer wallHas an inner core and outer wall

Contains undifferentiated (totipotent) cellsContains undifferentiated (totipotent) cells

No nerves or sensory systemNo nerves or sensory system

No blood is presentNo blood is present

No organs are formingNo organs are forming

It can only produce more undifferentiated cells in the labIt can only produce more undifferentiated cells in the lab

It is not an embryo until it implants in the uterus It is not an embryo until it implants in the uterus

Two Types of Cells in a BlastocystTwo Types of Cells in a Blastocyst

Inner cluster of pluripotent cells that can Inner cluster of pluripotent cells that can become any type of cell in the body.become any type of cell in the body.

Outer cells can only become a placenta. Outer cells can only become a placenta.

By this point, the outer cells have By this point, the outer cells have differentiated and are not the ones differentiated and are not the ones scientists wish to study.scientists wish to study.

Blastocyst vs. EmbryoBlastocyst vs. Embryo

A blastocyst can exist in a lab dish or inside a woman’s A blastocyst can exist in a lab dish or inside a woman’s body.body.

An embryo is a fertilized egg that has implanted in the An embryo is a fertilized egg that has implanted in the womb and is receiving nourishment and signals for womb and is receiving nourishment and signals for further development.further development.

Fertilization, Implantation & Fertilization, Implantation & ConceptionConception

Fertilization is the uniting of an egg and a Fertilization is the uniting of an egg and a sperm (in a lab or naturally)sperm (in a lab or naturally)Implantation occurs inside a woman when Implantation occurs inside a woman when the blastocyst embeds into the lining of the the blastocyst embeds into the lining of the uterus (cannot occur in lab)uterus (cannot occur in lab)Conception/Pregnancy is confirmed when Conception/Pregnancy is confirmed when implantation occurs and mother’s blood implantation occurs and mother’s blood tests reveal significant levels of hCG tests reveal significant levels of hCG (cannot occur in a lab)(cannot occur in a lab)

What is an Adult Stem Cell?What is an Adult Stem Cell?

This term refers to multipotent stem cells This term refers to multipotent stem cells found in amniotic fluid, umbilical cord found in amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, children and adults. blood, children and adults.

If a stem cell has moved past the If a stem cell has moved past the totipotent or pluripotent stages, it is totipotent or pluripotent stages, it is considered an adult stem cell.considered an adult stem cell.

Debating Moral ControversyDebating Moral Controversy

It’s not about babies; Babies grow inside It’s not about babies; Babies grow inside mothers, not in lab dishes! mothers, not in lab dishes!

It’s not about embryos; it’s about cells that It’s not about embryos; it’s about cells that could save lives. could save lives.

The question is not “When does life The question is not “When does life begin?” The issue is whether to toss the begin?” The issue is whether to toss the leftover cells, flush them, or allow them to leftover cells, flush them, or allow them to be used for research.be used for research.

Leftover BlastocystsLeftover Blastocysts

Introduce all cells (Italy)Introduce all cells (Italy)

Surrogacy (Snowflake Children)Surrogacy (Snowflake Children)

DiscardDiscard

ResearchResearch

Are Blastocysts Equal to Humans?Are Blastocysts Equal to Humans?

Scenario 1 - lab/daycareScenario 1 - lab/daycare

Scenario 2 – memorial/trash canScenario 2 – memorial/trash can

Federal funds may be used on a few stem Federal funds may be used on a few stem cell lines from leftover cell lines from leftover in vitro in vitro processes. processes. So, how can this be the moral issue our So, how can this be the moral issue our politicians pretend it to be?politicians pretend it to be?

Why Federal Funding?Why Federal Funding?

30 year progress with Adult stem cells has 30 year progress with Adult stem cells has produced treatment for 9 diseasesproduced treatment for 9 diseases

Bush approved certain stem cell lines Bush approved certain stem cell lines created prior to 2001created prior to 2001

Published by Nightengale PressPublished by Nightengale Press

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