hi everyone this is a blank sheet of paper in the next five minutes it has
paper in the next five minutes it has
paper in the next five minutes it has the potential to become someone’s class
the potential to become someone’s class
the potential to become someone’s class notes it could be a letter to Santa it
notes it could be a letter to Santa it
notes it could be a letter to Santa it could even be the first page to the
could even be the first page to the
could even be the first page to the greatest novel ever written a stem cell
greatest novel ever written a stem cell
greatest novel ever written a stem cell is the blank page the human body its
is the blank page the human body its
is the blank page the human body its fate has limitless possibilities and its
fate has limitless possibilities and its
fate has limitless possibilities and its potential is unbounded simply put a stem
potential is unbounded simply put a stem
potential is unbounded simply put a stem cell is an undifferentiated cell that
cell is an undifferentiated cell that
cell is an undifferentiated cell that has the potential to become any other
has the potential to become any other
has the potential to become any other type of cell everyone in this audience
type of cell everyone in this audience
type of cell everyone in this audience right now you all started off as a stem
right now you all started off as a stem
right now you all started off as a stem cell and then your DNA came in did all
cell and then your DNA came in did all
cell and then your DNA came in did all the work and differentiated each groups
the work and differentiated each groups
the work and differentiated each groups of your stem cells into your muscles
of your stem cells into your muscles
of your stem cells into your muscles into your heart into your brain until we
into your heart into your brain until we
into your heart into your brain until we get the finished product you so I first
get the finished product you so I first
get the finished product you so I first got interested in stem cells when I was
got interested in stem cells when I was
got interested in stem cells when I was just a fifteen-year-old high schooler
just a fifteen-year-old high schooler
just a fifteen-year-old high schooler and my teacher gave us the opportunity
and my teacher gave us the opportunity
and my teacher gave us the opportunity to write about it of course in my mind I
to write about it of course in my mind I
to write about it of course in my mind I was like do I really want to write a
was like do I really want to write a
was like do I really want to write a paper about the cells inside the stem of
paper about the cells inside the stem of
paper about the cells inside the stem of a plant because up builds and then
a plant because up builds and then
a plant because up builds and then that’s all I thought a stem cell was but
that’s all I thought a stem cell was but
that’s all I thought a stem cell was but six years later with a college education
six years later with a college education
six years later with a college education from USC I now know that it is so much
from USC I now know that it is so much
from USC I now know that it is so much more I was reading this article the
more I was reading this article the
more I was reading this article the other day about a 21 year old college
other day about a 21 year old college
other day about a 21 year old college student not unlike myself or many of you
student not unlike myself or many of you
student not unlike myself or many of you in the audience who got a car accident
in the audience who got a car accident
in the audience who got a car accident and was paralyzed from the neck down at
and was paralyzed from the neck down at
and was paralyzed from the neck down at such a young age yet his independence to
such a young age yet his independence to
such a young age yet his independence to live stripped from them desperate for a
live stripped from them desperate for a
live stripped from them desperate for a miracle he applied to be part of a
miracle he applied to be part of a
miracle he applied to be part of a clinical trial in which doctors injected
clinical trial in which doctors injected
clinical trial in which doctors injected stem cells into his spinal cord and
stem cells into his spinal cord and
stem cells into his spinal cord and within a few months he regained motor
within a few months he regained motor
within a few months he regained motor function in his arms and hands now a
function in his arms and hands now a
function in his arms and hands now a young man who wouldn’t have been able to
young man who wouldn’t have been able to
young man who wouldn’t have been able to brush his own teeth can feed himself
brush his own teeth can feed himself
brush his own teeth can feed himself can hug his family and friends can even
can hug his family and friends can even
can hug his family and friends can even lift weights it was revolutionary there
lift weights it was revolutionary there
lift weights it was revolutionary there is all this optimism and excitement
is all this optimism and excitement
is all this optimism and excitement being funneled into stem-cell research
being funneled into stem-cell research
being funneled into stem-cell research right now because stem cells have that
right now because stem cells have that
right now because stem cells have that allure of being the elixir to all our
allure of being the elixir to all our
allure of being the elixir to all our problems
problems
problems research is being done this very second
research is being done this very second
research is being done this very second on how stem cells could treat
on how stem cells could treat
on how stem cells could treat Alzheimer’s disease Parkinson’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease Parkinson’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease Parkinson’s disease arthritis blindness cancer same-sex
arthritis blindness cancer same-sex
arthritis blindness cancer same-sex reproduction whoa hold up rewind did you
reproduction whoa hold up rewind did you
reproduction whoa hold up rewind did you just say same-sex reproduction yes I did
just say same-sex reproduction yes I did
just say same-sex reproduction yes I did the idea that we could have a child who
the idea that we could have a child who
the idea that we could have a child who genetically represents 50% of each of
genetically represents 50% of each of
genetically represents 50% of each of their same gendered parent a world where
their same gendered parent a world where
their same gendered parent a world where this baby could be a child to his
this baby could be a child to his
this baby could be a child to his parents the same way I am a child to
parents the same way I am a child to
parents the same way I am a child to mine you must be thinking how do we just
mine you must be thinking how do we just
mine you must be thinking how do we just jump from the topic of stem cells to
jump from the topic of stem cells to
jump from the topic of stem cells to same-sex couples
same-sex couples
same-sex couples well you need to understand stem cell
well you need to understand stem cell
well you need to understand stem cell biology in order to achieve that great
biology in order to achieve that great
biology in order to achieve that great feat now I know you didn’t come here for
feat now I know you didn’t come here for
feat now I know you didn’t come here for a science class but give me a chance to
a science class but give me a chance to
a science class but give me a chance to explain for all the years that we had
explain for all the years that we had
explain for all the years that we had first discovered stem cells we have come
first discovered stem cells we have come
first discovered stem cells we have come to understand that once the stem cell
to understand that once the stem cell
to understand that once the stem cell differentiates or turns into a specific
differentiates or turns into a specific
differentiates or turns into a specific kind of cell that’s it that’s the end of
kind of cell that’s it that’s the end of
kind of cell that’s it that’s the end of the story period almost in the same way
the story period almost in the same way
the story period almost in the same way is if I were to write on ink on this
is if I were to write on ink on this
is if I were to write on ink on this blank sheet of paper it is final it
blank sheet of paper it is final it
blank sheet of paper it is final it cannot go back to being a completely
cannot go back to being a completely
cannot go back to being a completely blank sheet of paper again and for a
blank sheet of paper again and for a
blank sheet of paper again and for a real long time we accepted that but as
real long time we accepted that but as
real long time we accepted that but as with all meaningful scientific research
with all meaningful scientific research
with all meaningful scientific research it’s just about asking the right
it’s just about asking the right
it’s just about asking the right questions
questions
questions ten years ago a brilliant scientist
ten years ago a brilliant scientist
ten years ago a brilliant scientist named dr. Yamanaka asked well what if we
named dr. Yamanaka asked well what if we
named dr. Yamanaka asked well what if we could go back what if I wrote this in
could go back what if I wrote this in
could go back what if I wrote this in pencil instead of pen and there’s a way
pencil instead of pen and there’s a way
pencil instead of pen and there’s a way to erase the words so that I would have
to erase the words so that I would have
to erase the words so that I would have a completely blank sheet of paper again
a completely blank sheet of paper again
a completely blank sheet of paper again cue scientists around the world having
cue scientists around the world having
cue scientists around the world having their minds blown
their minds blown
their minds blown dr. Yamanaka understood this one simple
dr. Yamanaka understood this one simple
dr. Yamanaka understood this one simple concept that just like us as humans
concept that just like us as humans
concept that just like us as humans cells are products of their environment
cells are products of their environment
cells are products of their environment so you can take any cell right now put
so you can take any cell right now put
so you can take any cell right now put it in the same medium with these
it in the same medium with these
it in the same medium with these transcription factors that are normally
transcription factors that are normally
transcription factors that are normally found on a stem cell and it changes that
found on a stem cell and it changes that
found on a stem cell and it changes that cell back into a stem cell or as we call
cell back into a stem cell or as we call
cell back into a stem cell or as we call induced pluripotent stem cells it’s like
induced pluripotent stem cells it’s like
induced pluripotent stem cells it’s like taking the last page out of your
taking the last page out of your
taking the last page out of your favorite novel erasing it completely and
favorite novel erasing it completely and
favorite novel erasing it completely and writing a brand new story in reality
writing a brand new story in reality
writing a brand new story in reality biology is so much more fluid than we
biology is so much more fluid than we
biology is so much more fluid than we teach it to be right now your muscle
teach it to be right now your muscle
teach it to be right now your muscle cells have the potential to go back to a
cells have the potential to go back to a
cells have the potential to go back to a stem cell and then turn into a heart
stem cell and then turn into a heart
stem cell and then turn into a heart cell if you wanted to a neuron can
cell if you wanted to a neuron can
cell if you wanted to a neuron can become a bone cell a skin cell can
become a bone cell a skin cell can
become a bone cell a skin cell can become an egg cell ah now we get to the
become an egg cell ah now we get to the
become an egg cell ah now we get to the good part now you have all the
good part now you have all the
good part now you have all the scientific tools you need to understand
scientific tools you need to understand
scientific tools you need to understand how same-sex reproduction works so let’s
how same-sex reproduction works so let’s
how same-sex reproduction works so let’s take this male male couple for example
take this male male couple for example
take this male male couple for example we’ll call them Jim and Bob you start
we’ll call them Jim and Bob you start
we’ll call them Jim and Bob you start out by extracting skin cells from Jim
out by extracting skin cells from Jim
out by extracting skin cells from Jim and putting it in that medium that turns
and putting it in that medium that turns
and putting it in that medium that turns it back into a stem cell and then you
it back into a stem cell and then you
it back into a stem cell and then you take these stem cells and program them
take these stem cells and program them
take these stem cells and program them into egg cells next you fertilize these
into egg cells next you fertilize these
into egg cells next you fertilize these egg cells with Bob’s sperm cells and
egg cells with Bob’s sperm cells and
egg cells with Bob’s sperm cells and finally put that fertilized embryo
finally put that fertilized embryo
finally put that fertilized embryo inside a surrogate who carries it until
inside a surrogate who carries it until
inside a surrogate who carries it until birth voila that is how two guys can
birth voila that is how two guys can
birth voila that is how two guys can have a baby together oh my god
have a baby together oh my god
have a baby together oh my god science right when I first heard about
science right when I first heard about
science right when I first heard about this I was so skeptical that a process
this I was so skeptical that a process
this I was so skeptical that a process like this could actually work but in
like this could actually work but in
like this could actually work but in these past two years an immense amount
these past two years an immense amount
these past two years an immense amount of time and Rhys
of time and Rhys
of time and Rhys has gone into this technology and how we
has gone into this technology and how we
has gone into this technology and how we can make it a reality
can make it a reality
can make it a reality don’t get me wrong there’s still a few
don’t get me wrong there’s still a few
don’t get me wrong there’s still a few more kinks to work out but this
more kinks to work out but this
more kinks to work out but this framework has been tested and supported
framework has been tested and supported
framework has been tested and supported and we are inching our way into having
and we are inching our way into having
and we are inching our way into having this actually applied in our society let
this actually applied in our society let
this actually applied in our society let me put this in perspective for you
me put this in perspective for you
me put this in perspective for you remember my blank sheet of paper and all
remember my blank sheet of paper and all
remember my blank sheet of paper and all the potential it had for the things that
the potential it had for the things that
the potential it had for the things that could be written or drawn on it well
could be written or drawn on it well
could be written or drawn on it well science is about asking the right
science is about asking the right
science is about asking the right questions dr. Yamanaka asked what if we
questions dr. Yamanaka asked what if we
questions dr. Yamanaka asked what if we could erase the words so that we could
could erase the words so that we could
could erase the words so that we could go back to the blank paper that is how
go back to the blank paper that is how
go back to the blank paper that is how we got induced pluripotent stem cells
we got induced pluripotent stem cells
we got induced pluripotent stem cells now scientists are asking well what if
now scientists are asking well what if
now scientists are asking well what if we don’t just write or draw on the paper
we don’t just write or draw on the paper
we don’t just write or draw on the paper what if we could fold it and turn it
what if we could fold it and turn it
what if we could fold it and turn it into something completely different if a
into something completely different if a
into something completely different if a stem cell is the blank page to the human
stem cell is the blank page to the human
stem cell is the blank page to the human body then using it for same-sex
body then using it for same-sex
body then using it for same-sex reproduction is like making a swan out
reproduction is like making a swan out
reproduction is like making a swan out of that piece of paper the paper is now
of that piece of paper the paper is now
of that piece of paper the paper is now being used in a manner we have never
being used in a manner we have never
being used in a manner we have never imagined it to be before when we think
imagined it to be before when we think
imagined it to be before when we think of stem cells we see it as something
of stem cells we see it as something
of stem cells we see it as something that fixes what is broken with our body
that fixes what is broken with our body
that fixes what is broken with our body however this definition or this research
however this definition or this research
however this definition or this research rejects that definition
rejects that definition
rejects that definition what if stem cells don’t just fix but
what if stem cells don’t just fix but
what if stem cells don’t just fix but instead adds to our lives so let’s add
instead adds to our lives so let’s add
instead adds to our lives so let’s add this to our society I read this article
this to our society I read this article
this to our society I read this article two years ago guess what folks its 2017
two years ago guess what folks its 2017
two years ago guess what folks its 2017 which means that this could be happening
which means that this could be happening
which means that this could be happening sooner rather than later but before you
sooner rather than later but before you
sooner rather than later but before you get too excited and jump out of your
get too excited and jump out of your
get too excited and jump out of your seats remember that no scientific
seats remember that no scientific
seats remember that no scientific advancement has gone the automatic
advancement has gone the automatic
advancement has gone the automatic greenlight without carefully exploring
greenlight without carefully exploring
greenlight without carefully exploring the moral and ethical implications of
the moral and ethical implications of
the moral and ethical implications of the situation sure this technology could
the situation sure this technology could
the situation sure this technology could be perfected by the end of 2017 but the
be perfected by the end of 2017 but the
be perfected by the end of 2017 but the implementation could take ten years
implementation could take ten years
implementation could take ten years because science is inexplicably
because science is inexplicably
because science is inexplicably connected to our social economic
connected to our social economic
connected to our social economic religious and political world while stem
religious and political world while stem
religious and political world while stem cells might answer this one question it
cells might answer this one question it
cells might answer this one question it opens up 100 new questions for debate
opens up 100 new questions for debate
opens up 100 new questions for debate like is this process too unnatural what
like is this process too unnatural what
like is this process too unnatural what would be the mental and physical state
would be the mental and physical state
would be the mental and physical state of a child coming out of this process
of a child coming out of this process
of a child coming out of this process would our government pass legislation on
would our government pass legislation on
would our government pass legislation on it the same way they did for same-sex
it the same way they did for same-sex
it the same way they did for same-sex marriage think about it
marriage think about it
marriage think about it with the people who fought same-sex
with the people who fought same-sex
with the people who fought same-sex marriage also fights same-sex
marriage also fights same-sex
marriage also fights same-sex reproduction what kind of money would
reproduction what kind of money would
reproduction what kind of money would this procedure cost and if so who would
this procedure cost and if so who would
this procedure cost and if so who would it be available to I could go on forever
it be available to I could go on forever
it be available to I could go on forever with these kinds of questions but that’s
with these kinds of questions but that’s
with these kinds of questions but that’s not what I’m here to do today I want to
not what I’m here to do today I want to
not what I’m here to do today I want to highlight the important ethical
highlight the important ethical
highlight the important ethical considerations you probably didn’t think
considerations you probably didn’t think
considerations you probably didn’t think of right away the kinds that might not
of right away the kinds that might not
of right away the kinds that might not go into effect tomorrow but have a huge
go into effect tomorrow but have a huge
go into effect tomorrow but have a huge impact down the line for example what is
impact down the line for example what is
impact down the line for example what is that fear everyone has when they hear
that fear everyone has when they hear
that fear everyone has when they hear the words stem cells research genetics
the words stem cells research genetics
the words stem cells research genetics reproduction all put together designer
reproduction all put together designer
reproduction all put together designer babies the idea that I could choose to
babies the idea that I could choose to
babies the idea that I could choose to have a child and say I want it to be a
have a child and say I want it to be a
have a child and say I want it to be a girl I want to have green eyes and this
girl I want to have green eyes and this
girl I want to have green eyes and this brown hair and this IQ and this
brown hair and this IQ and this
brown hair and this IQ and this personality a world where our future
personality a world where our future
personality a world where our future looks like the one in the movie Gattaca
looks like the one in the movie Gattaca
looks like the one in the movie Gattaca where our whole society is governed by
where our whole society is governed by
where our whole society is governed by genetics well I’m here to tell you today
genetics well I’m here to tell you today
genetics well I’m here to tell you today that using stem cells for same-sex
that using stem cells for same-sex
that using stem cells for same-sex reproduction does not all of a sudden
reproduction does not all of a sudden
reproduction does not all of a sudden allow us to have designer babies even if
allow us to have designer babies even if
allow us to have designer babies even if this whole process of conception sounds
this whole process of conception sounds
this whole process of conception sounds confusing to you at the end of the day
confusing to you at the end of the day
confusing to you at the end of the day it’s still a random sperm cell
it’s still a random sperm cell
it’s still a random sperm cell fertilizes random egg cell and we do not
fertilizes random egg cell and we do not
fertilizes random egg cell and we do not get to choose the genes or
get to choose the genes or
get to choose the genes or characteristics of the child coming out
characteristics of the child coming out
characteristics of the child coming out of it sure a society like the one in
of it sure a society like the one in
of it sure a society like the one in Gattaca won’t happen overnight
Gattaca won’t happen overnight
Gattaca won’t happen overnight but we still need to be cautious because
but we still need to be cautious because
but we still need to be cautious because it could have
it could have
it could have in progressively if we greenlight this
in progressively if we greenlight this
in progressively if we greenlight this kind of technology who’s to say we won’t
kind of technology who’s to say we won’t
kind of technology who’s to say we won’t greenlight the next one and the next one
greenlight the next one and the next one
greenlight the next one and the next one and the next one and the next one and
and the next one and the next one and
and the next one and the next one and the next one until one day we wake up
the next one until one day we wake up
the next one until one day we wake up and it’s bit Gattaca and designer babies
and it’s bit Gattaca and designer babies
and it’s bit Gattaca and designer babies everywhere in evaluating the technology
everywhere in evaluating the technology
everywhere in evaluating the technology behind same-sex reproduction we have to
behind same-sex reproduction we have to
behind same-sex reproduction we have to understand the gravity of the
understand the gravity of the
understand the gravity of the consequences this could have 20 to 30
consequences this could have 20 to 30
consequences this could have 20 to 30 years down the line
years down the line
years down the line here’s another implication you probably
here’s another implication you probably
here’s another implication you probably didn’t think of remember Jim and Bob
didn’t think of remember Jim and Bob
didn’t think of remember Jim and Bob well what if this was Sue and Mary what
well what if this was Sue and Mary what
well what if this was Sue and Mary what if we had a female female couple the
if we had a female female couple the
if we had a female female couple the science behind it would still be the
science behind it would still be the
science behind it would still be the same you take the skin cells of Sue turn
same you take the skin cells of Sue turn
same you take the skin cells of Sue turn it back into a stem cell and then turn
it back into a stem cell and then turn
it back into a stem cell and then turn that into a sperm cell you take two
that into a sperm cell you take two
that into a sperm cell you take two sperm cells Mary’s egg cells and here’s
sperm cells Mary’s egg cells and here’s
sperm cells Mary’s egg cells and here’s the best part about two women you don’t
the best part about two women you don’t
the best part about two women you don’t even need a surrogate either sue or Mary
even need a surrogate either sue or Mary
even need a surrogate either sue or Mary could carry the child so then what’s the
could carry the child so then what’s the
could carry the child so then what’s the catch the key difference is that two men
catch the key difference is that two men
catch the key difference is that two men have both an X and Y chromosome they
have both an X and Y chromosome they
have both an X and Y chromosome they could conceive either boys or girls
could conceive either boys or girls
could conceive either boys or girls however two women have only X
however two women have only X
however two women have only X chromosomes they could conceive only
chromosomes they could conceive only
chromosomes they could conceive only girls let that sink in for a second this
girls let that sink in for a second this
girls let that sink in for a second this would not be the same situation as
would not be the same situation as
would not be the same situation as designer babies two women would not be
designer babies two women would not be
designer babies two women would not be choosing to have only girls that would
choosing to have only girls that would
choosing to have only girls that would be the only choice they have science
be the only choice they have science
be the only choice they have science might allow us to find a way to have two
might allow us to find a way to have two
might allow us to find a way to have two people of the same gender have a baby
people of the same gender have a baby
people of the same gender have a baby together but we do not yet have a way to
together but we do not yet have a way to
together but we do not yet have a way to create a synthetic Y chromosome so X’s
create a synthetic Y chromosome so X’s
create a synthetic Y chromosome so X’s are all we got now for up to me I mean I
are all we got now for up to me I mean I
are all we got now for up to me I mean I wouldn’t mind having a few more females
wouldn’t mind having a few more females
wouldn’t mind having a few more females in this world am i right
in this world am i right
in this world am i right but ultimately this would be a form of
but ultimately this would be a form of
but ultimately this would be a form of gender control up until now our whole
gender control up until now our whole
gender control up until now our whole society has been ruining the fact that
society has been ruining the fact that
society has been ruining the fact that every one of our genders is here because
every one of our genders is here because
every one of our genders is here because of chance I am a woman today not because
of chance I am a woman today not because
of chance I am a woman today not because my parents specifically chose me to be
my parents specifically chose me to be
my parents specifically chose me to be but because that’s just how the dice
but because that’s just how the dice
but because that’s just how the dice rolled with same-sex reproduction we now
rolled with same-sex reproduction we now
rolled with same-sex reproduction we now have a way to control for gender we have
have a way to control for gender we have
have a way to control for gender we have never encountered before
never encountered before
never encountered before it’s like tipping the scale and a
it’s like tipping the scale and a
it’s like tipping the scale and a balance that up until now we thought to
balance that up until now we thought to
balance that up until now we thought to be fairly even some people may argue
be fairly even some people may argue
be fairly even some people may argue that this is enough reason to completely
that this is enough reason to completely
that this is enough reason to completely stop same-sex reproduction in its tracks
stop same-sex reproduction in its tracks
stop same-sex reproduction in its tracks or at least restrict it from lesbian
or at least restrict it from lesbian
or at least restrict it from lesbian couples but is that really fair is a
couples but is that really fair is a
couples but is that really fair is a prospect of a few extra females enough
prospect of a few extra females enough
prospect of a few extra females enough reason to make this unavailable to
reason to make this unavailable to
reason to make this unavailable to lesbian couples something I’ve not
lesbian couples something I’ve not
lesbian couples something I’ve not shared with you all yet is that one of
shared with you all yet is that one of
shared with you all yet is that one of the reasons I was so attracted to this
the reasons I was so attracted to this
the reasons I was so attracted to this research is because my sister is gay and
research is because my sister is gay and
research is because my sister is gay and I love my sister all I want for in the
I love my sister all I want for in the
I love my sister all I want for in the world is to be able to have kids of her
world is to be able to have kids of her
world is to be able to have kids of her own I can look at my partner today and
own I can look at my partner today and
own I can look at my partner today and be so excited at the prospect of having
be so excited at the prospect of having
be so excited at the prospect of having kids with them our kids would be a
kids with them our kids would be a
kids with them our kids would be a unique blend of the two of us his eyes
unique blend of the two of us his eyes
unique blend of the two of us his eyes my hair his intelligence my fav but that
my hair his intelligence my fav but that
my hair his intelligence my fav but that chance
chance
chance to have children together is a privilege
to have children together is a privilege
to have children together is a privilege it is something that not everyone in
it is something that not everyone in
it is something that not everyone in this world not even everyone in this
this world not even everyone in this
this world not even everyone in this room right now gets to experience I hope
room right now gets to experience I hope
room right now gets to experience I hope that one day my sister can feel that
that one day my sister can feel that
that one day my sister can feel that same excitement by looking at her
same excitement by looking at her
same excitement by looking at her partner and having a child together that
partner and having a child together that
partner and having a child together that represents the both of them here’s the
represents the both of them here’s the
represents the both of them here’s the thing we are living in exciting times
thing we are living in exciting times
thing we are living in exciting times just two years ago same-sex marriage
just two years ago same-sex marriage
just two years ago same-sex marriage Supreme Court and in two years we
Supreme Court and in two years we
Supreme Court and in two years we figured out how to turn a stem cell into
figured out how to turn a stem cell into
figured out how to turn a stem cell into an egg cell up until now we have seen
an egg cell up until now we have seen
an egg cell up until now we have seen science and social advocacy as two
science and social advocacy as two
science and social advocacy as two completely separate arenas but now we
completely separate arenas but now we
completely separate arenas but now we have a beautiful opportunity to see a
have a beautiful opportunity to see a
have a beautiful opportunity to see a union of the two stem cells can serve as
union of the two stem cells can serve as
union of the two stem cells can serve as a treatment to diseases and illnesses
a treatment to diseases and illnesses
a treatment to diseases and illnesses but can also act as an advocate to LGBTQ
but can also act as an advocate to LGBTQ
but can also act as an advocate to LGBTQ rights but before it can do any of that
rights but before it can do any of that
rights but before it can do any of that we as a society have to look at this
we as a society have to look at this
we as a society have to look at this technology behind same-sex reproduction
technology behind same-sex reproduction
technology behind same-sex reproduction and ask where do we draw the line with
and ask where do we draw the line with
and ask where do we draw the line with ethical science what is right and what
ethical science what is right and what
ethical science what is right and what is wrong are the reasons behind same-sex
is wrong are the reasons behind same-sex
is wrong are the reasons behind same-sex reproduction compelling enough to move
reproduction compelling enough to move
reproduction compelling enough to move forward with this research or should we
forward with this research or should we
forward with this research or should we stop it in its tracks before it goes any
stop it in its tracks before it goes any
stop it in its tracks before it goes any further the inescapable truth is that
further the inescapable truth is that
further the inescapable truth is that while scientists may wheel the
while scientists may wheel the
while scientists may wheel the technology only you have the power to
technology only you have the power to
technology only you have the power to implement it I guarantee you in a few
implement it I guarantee you in a few
implement it I guarantee you in a few years time you will find yourself
years time you will find yourself
years time you will find yourself sitting in front of a ballot
sitting in front of a ballot
sitting in front of a ballot contemplating legislation on same-sex
contemplating legislation on same-sex
contemplating legislation on same-sex marriage only you can answer that
marriage only you can answer that
marriage only you can answer that question so choose wisely thank you
question so choose wisely thank you
question so choose wisely thank you [Applause]
”
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