Miracle Cells

In a January 2005 WORLD Magazine article [http://www.worldmag.com/subscriber/displayarticle.cfm?id=10284] a University of Kansas researcher addresses a rhetorical situation. The debate over stem-cell research and application of findings becomes controversial because of the use of embryos as sources for these miracle cells. Dr. Mitchell has discovered that stem cells can be extracted from umbilical cords rather than human embryos, and she has successfully experimented with these cells resulting in the elimination of diabetes in mice. The research has also been applied to humans, specifically to a young boy with a brain disorder who is completely healed as a result of treatment.
The exigence of the situation exists because a non-controversial, effective alternative exists to the controversial treatment with stem cells extracted from embryos. Complication arises when the two audiences are considered. First, the colleagues and grant-approvers. Because embryonic stem cells are the popular choice, scientists and money sources are slow to endorse umbilical cell stem cell endeavors. Second, the general public, in whom lies the bulk of the concern, who would be willing to forgoe the debate in favor of non-controversial treatment methods. The constraints on the situation include the tendency of grant-givers and other scientists to allocate funds and promote embryonic stem cell research [ultimately in order to win the controversial debate], thus rejecting the funding of research of alternate stem cell sources.
Dr. Mitchell will respond rhetorically to the situation by writing a proposal for a grant. She will have to employ the 5 canons to create an effective document: invention- formulating her ideas and arguments; organization-structuring her ideas and arguments logically and intentionally; style-deciding which words to use to express her ideas and arguments to facilitate correct interpretation; delivery-in her case, a written document in an appealing format; and memory-being able to present her case whenever called upon to do so.