I am trying to convince ignorant family members that stem cell research is a good thing. Help me gather some facts that are hard to argue with.

kimwim42 · 1 year

here, here, and here. Have a good weekend. Oh, and this one is really good

shaggy391 · 1 year

I believe we should set up an "I don't believe in this type of research" registry. When a cure for whatever is discovered, members of the list won't be allowed to participate.

tadrinth · 1 year

Induced pluripotent stem cell technology will allow the creation of replacement organs from skin samples. As in, when your liver quits on you, doctors will be able to take a bit of your skin and grow you an entirely new one, without requiring a donor and without forcing you to take immune suppressants for the rest of your life to prevent rejection.

If they're against fetal stem cells, well, that's one thing, but you can reprogram cells from adults into stem cells.

Beezlesnort · 1 year

Point out that stem cells can be harvested from adults, and do not require grinding up babies to obtain.

arizona_d · 1 year

Sam Harris has one of the best arguments I have heard. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUwnMX8ht3U

stp2007 · 1 year

First convince them that ignorance isn't a good thing.

ZeroBugBounce · 1 year

Amongst the other arguments, don't forget to remind them that if they oppose destruction of human embryos for production of stem cells, then they also should oppose in vitro fertilization because it also leads to the destruction of embryos.

slashr · 1 year

Why would anyone think harmless research isn't a good thing?

spif · 1 year

What's your motivation to convince them?

justcametosay- · 1 year

Or you could just ignore your family's dumb opinions. Seriously, does it really matter? I've stopped paying attention to my relatives' idiocy for quite some time. Feels good man.

bshayden · 1 year

The Harris video is great. I also like to point out that many people feel that ESC research is wrong but IVF is fine. IVF, as practiced today, creates more embryos than will be used and thus condemns the embryos to destruction of one kind or another. Yet it's the scientists who want to use those already doomed embryos to learn about and prevent disease who catch the flak.

snarfy · 1 year

First, ask them why stem cells are a bad thing in the first place. Then repost their reasons and the rest of the internet will gladly rip them new assholes err explain the fallacies in their logic.

idioma · 1 year

[deleted]

stlouisbrowns · 1 year

Forget it. You're wasting your time.

triviaqueen · 1 year

My 14 year old large dog is now having trouble walking. The vet's x-rays showed advanced arthritis in a hip and the opposite knee. "No problem," he said, "we can just to stem cell treatment for her." For $1,800, they harvest abdominal fat, culture stem cells, and inject them into her knee and hip. So, if they can do that for my 14 year old dog, why can't they do that for my 80 year old mother?

dromni · 1 year

What about the cure of AIDS?

caprincrash · 1 year

It has the potential to cure, Diabetes, Blindness, Paralysis and countless other disease and injuries that we might not even be aware of yet.

honest_tea · 1 year

Just a small example:

In 2007, researchers at University College London grew a type of zebrafish adult stem cell found in the eyes of fish and mammals that develops into neurons in the retina—the part of the eye that sends messages to the brain. These cells could be injected in the eye to treat diseases that damage retinal neurons—nearly every disease of the eye, including macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetes-related blindness. Retinal damage is responsible for most cases of sight loss. The researchers studied Müller glial cells in the eyes of humans aged from 18 months to 91 years and were able to develop them into all types of retinal neurons. They were able to grow them easily in the lab. The stem cells successfully migrated into diseased rats' retinas and took on the characteristics of the surrounding neurons. The team is working on the same approach in humans.

source

causticmango · 1 year

You know, it's a little like trying to convince someone that oxygen is good for them. If they don't already know it, you're not likely to convince them.

Your best bet it just to politely and firmly state that you think it's good and important. If they have any respect for you and your opinion, they'll wonder why you feel that way and investigate on their own.

Trying to argue the point on its logical merit with someone for whom it's likely a matter of principled belief is only going to cause them to dig in deeper.

[deleted] · 1 year

Talking points:

Stem cell research does not necessarily involve human embryonic or even human tissue; mice are commonly used as a model organism.
Stem cells are fundamental element of all multicellular organisms at all life stages (embryonic to adult). We must understand them to understand growth, regeneration and diseases related to these.

Homework:

Give them this pamphlet
Watch these videos

NotAnAlt · 1 year

dude, can't fix stupid.

smift · 1 year

Not your personal army.

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