Defense Paper
Content
Defense Paper
Connor Smythe
UWRT 1103-037
Professor Caruso
November 17, 2015
For my Genretized Product I created a model billboard poster for advertising the need to
donate towards genetic therapy research. This model was created to be similar to what would be
seen on a highway when driving. I chose to create a billboard model based on two key factors.
The first factor was the targeted audience I am attempting to reach by creating this product. The
second factor was the ability to be created based upon time and resources. Initially, I planned to
conduct an interview with Planned Parenthood or with North Carolina Abortion. This did not
occur because of the large amount of “phone-tagging” that went on, and the lack of their interest
in the research that I was conducting. Using my newly acquired experience with the project, I
made a decision to create a billboard model.
With the focus on genetic therapy, it is important to outline exactly what genetic therapy
is and its current legal standing. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, genetic
therapy is “replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene.
Inactivating, or “knocking out,” a mutated gene that is functioning improperly. Introducing a new
gene into the body to help fight a disease” (“What Is Gene Therapy?” November 2, 2015). In
addition to the definition, it is crucial to consider that while the use of genetic therapy on the
public is not yet legal, the push to become legal is greater than ever with the recent successes the
research has had in controlled environments (The Sorting Society, 2008). The definitions
featured highlight the potentials for research using genetic therapy. The definition that I focused
on when creating my Genretized Product was the deactivation or curing mutated genes. A picture
of a child with Down syndrome is incorporated into my billboard model because Down
syndrome is a genetic disorder. There is a specific cause of Down syndrome which is referred to
trisomy 21, or having more or less than two number 21 chromosomes ("Down Syndrome
Genetics: Unravelling a Multifactorial Disorder." June 3, 1996). Because each cell in the body
has more or less than two of these chromosomes, it is labeled as a genetic disorder.
With Down syndrome being a genetic disorder, it is thought to be possible for it to be
cured using genetic therapy in the future. While research is still being conducted on the
application and extent to which genetic therapy can be used, progress has been made with recent
discoveries using genetic therapy in cancer research ("Gene Therapy Grows Into Young
Adulthood: Special Review Issue." 2011). I decided to include the picture of the girl with Down
syndrome because of the rapid growth of genetic therapy in the research community. While it is
not yet possible, it is highly likely to become reality with continued research and funding.
The picture of the woman staring out a window was strategically chosen because of many
factors associated with the genetic therapy process. The factors associated with genetic therapy
that are stressed and expressed through the Genretized Product are the ethical and positive
impacts that correlate with genetic therapy. The two most common ways for genetic therapy to
be conducted is through cell-based delivery and direct delivery (“Use of Genetically Modified
Stem Cells in Experimental Gene Therapies” June 17, 2001). Direct delivery takes advantages of
introducing a cell to the body by using a harmless virus that will then multiply throughout the
body to replace the target cells. Cell-based delivery uses stem cells to create genetically modified
cells that grow in a controlled setting, and then introduced to the body (“Use of Genetically
Modified Stem Cells in Experimental Gene Therapies” June 17, 2001). There is currently a
debate over whether embryonic stem cells, or adult stem cells are more effective and versatile in
a variety of cases (“Use of Genetically Modified Stem Cells in Experimental Gene Therapies”
June 17, 2001). Embryonic stem cells are considered to be more valuable because of their
pluripotent property, or having the ability to become any cell type, i.e. nerve, brain, organ cell
("Stem Cell Basics" March 3, 2015). Adult stem cells are limited in the fact that they can only
become particular cell type they originated from ("Stem Cell Basics" March 3, 2015). The
collection of embryonic stem is often a topic for heated debate. Embryonic stem cells are
typically gathered from unborn human fetal tissue and thus become associated with the debate
over abortion ("An Overview of Stem Cell Research | The Center for Bioethics & Human
Dignity" April 2005).
Because of the conflict of how embryonic stem cells are acquired, the woman is shown to
be in such a pose and particular lighting. She is posed starring out of a window because she is
representing a pregnant woman with a decision to make. The decision she is faced with, is
having an abortion for whatever the reason may be. Because of this sensitive issue, the lighting
and background are grey and monotone as sign of sadness. I adjusted the filter to make it slightly
warmer than the original photo because I am attempting to play on the theme of “making the
most of a bad situation”. The woman can make the best of her situation by donating the unborn
fetal remains to a center where they will be used or passed on for research. I included Planned
Parenthood as the donation cite because of their public attention in the recent months, both good
and bad. Planned Parenthood has recently announced that they will no longer be offering money
for fetal tissue donations ("Planned Parenthood Stops Taking Money for Fetal Tissue Donations"
October 13, 2015). This is a huge step forward for this program in order to gain the public
support once again.
As the woman looks to the right, she is in direct eye sight of the middle text area. The text
in the middle is thicker from the left most font, because I am attempting to emphasize the
progression of seriousness. The font on the left starts thin, as if the thought process of the woman
is unsure and shaky. She looks to the middle area for answers and the heavier text guides her.
The woman’s eye level is exactly at the level of ”Donate Today” and this is symbolic of being
“the answer” she is looking for. Because nobody wants to have an abortion, the thought of
donating makes the best of the difficult and tense situation. The darkest text is that of the contact
information for Planned Parenthood because I wanted to outline exactly where a donation could
be made. It also serves as an attention grabber at the bottom center of the billboard model for the
audience of the general public to see. By reading the billboard model, the public knows where to
refer a friend, or even inform themselves, should they be in the same situation as the woman.
Additionally, the heavy text serves as the final rung in the ladder of solutions for the woman and
her problematic situation. She can solve her problem of having an abortion by making a fetal
tissue donation to Planned Parenthood to benefit the research of genetic therapy.
The woman looks through the “Donate Today” text and to the child with Down
syndrome. The child with Down syndrome is shown to be very happy in this photo. She is very
happy because she notices the woman looking for answers, and sees that the woman is going to
choose to donate to the research center. With her donation, genetic disorders like Down
syndrome, may be cured through the embryonic stem cells the woman will be donating for
genetic therapy. The happy and smiling child also gives the woman two thumbs up as a sign of
her making the right choice. In the billboard model, the child supports the woman’s choice to
donate and furthers the woman’s reassurance that she is making the right decision. The bright,
unfocused background represents a bright, yet unclear future for not only the woman but the girl
with Down syndrome. The future is unclear because of the fact that while genetic therapy is not
yet legal, nor has it been used to treat Down syndrome, the continued research and funding will
hopefully someday reach this point. Both are benefitting from the woman’s choice because of
how her decision will positively impact their lives. The edges of each photo are softened slightly
to represent the sensitivity of the issue at hand. While the issue is sensitive, the woman is
surrounded by answers and reassurance of her decision.
The billboard model on its own, is a very simplistic design. The simplistic design has
been used to convey a very powerful message without the use of strong and emotional words
such as “abortion” or “stem cells”. The reason for this is because with the audience being the
general public, it is crucial to inform without scaring or emotionally charging them. It is only
when the audience focuses in on the literacy of the billboard model and begins to carefully
examine how the model represents to the positive impacts of genetic therapy.
References
OLD
"What Is Gene Therapy?" Genetics Home Reference. November 2, 2015. Accessed November 9,
2015. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/therapy/genetherapy.
NEW (SCHOLARLY)
Hernandez, Diana, and Elizabeth Fisher. "Down Syndrome Genetics: Unravelling a
Multifactorial Disorder." 1996.
http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/content/5/Supplement_1/1411.full.
Lee, Brendan. "Gene Therapy Grows Into Young Adulthood: Special Review Issue." Human
Molecular Genetics 20, no. 1 (2011). Accessed November 8, 2015.
http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/content/20/R1/R1.extract#.
Skene, Loane. The Sorting Society: The Ethics of Genetic Screening and Therapy. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2008.
"11. Use of Genetically Modified Stem Cells in Experimental Gene Therapies." Stem Cell
Information. June 17, 2001. Accessed November 9, 2015.
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/pages/chapter11.aspx.
"An Overview of Stem Cell Research | The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity." An
Overview of Stem Cell Research | The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity. April 1,
2005. Accessed November 9, 2015. https://cbhd.org/stem-cell-research/overview.
"Stem Cell Basics." What Are the Similarities and Differences between Embryonic and Adult
Stem Cells? [Stem Cell Information]. March 3, 2015. Accessed November 11, 2015.
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/pages/basics5.aspx.
NEW (NON-SCHOLARLY)
Ferris, Sarah. "Planned Parenthood Stops Taking Money for Fetal Tissue Donations." The Hill,
October 13, 2015. Accessed November 9, 2015.
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/256752-planned-parenthood-will-no-longer-acceptreimbursement-for-fetal-tissue.
Connor Smythe
UWRT 1103-037
Professor Caruso
November 17, 2015
For my Genretized Product I created a model billboard poster for advertising the need to
donate towards genetic therapy research. This model was created to be similar to what would be
seen on a highway when driving. I chose to create a billboard model based on two key factors.
The first factor was the targeted audience I am attempting to reach by creating this product. The
second factor was the ability to be created based upon time and resources. Initially, I planned to
conduct an interview with Planned Parenthood or with North Carolina Abortion. This did not
occur because of the large amount of “phone-tagging” that went on, and the lack of their interest
in the research that I was conducting. Using my newly acquired experience with the project, I
made a decision to create a billboard model.
With the focus on genetic therapy, it is important to outline exactly what genetic therapy
is and its current legal standing. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, genetic
therapy is “replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene.
Inactivating, or “knocking out,” a mutated gene that is functioning improperly. Introducing a new
gene into the body to help fight a disease” (“What Is Gene Therapy?” November 2, 2015). In
addition to the definition, it is crucial to consider that while the use of genetic therapy on the
public is not yet legal, the push to become legal is greater than ever with the recent successes the
research has had in controlled environments (The Sorting Society, 2008). The definitions
featured highlight the potentials for research using genetic therapy. The definition that I focused
on when creating my Genretized Product was the deactivation or curing mutated genes. A picture
of a child with Down syndrome is incorporated into my billboard model because Down
syndrome is a genetic disorder. There is a specific cause of Down syndrome which is referred to
trisomy 21, or having more or less than two number 21 chromosomes ("Down Syndrome
Genetics: Unravelling a Multifactorial Disorder." June 3, 1996). Because each cell in the body
has more or less than two of these chromosomes, it is labeled as a genetic disorder.
With Down syndrome being a genetic disorder, it is thought to be possible for it to be
cured using genetic therapy in the future. While research is still being conducted on the
application and extent to which genetic therapy can be used, progress has been made with recent
discoveries using genetic therapy in cancer research ("Gene Therapy Grows Into Young
Adulthood: Special Review Issue." 2011). I decided to include the picture of the girl with Down
syndrome because of the rapid growth of genetic therapy in the research community. While it is
not yet possible, it is highly likely to become reality with continued research and funding.
The picture of the woman staring out a window was strategically chosen because of many
factors associated with the genetic therapy process. The factors associated with genetic therapy
that are stressed and expressed through the Genretized Product are the ethical and positive
impacts that correlate with genetic therapy. The two most common ways for genetic therapy to
be conducted is through cell-based delivery and direct delivery (“Use of Genetically Modified
Stem Cells in Experimental Gene Therapies” June 17, 2001). Direct delivery takes advantages of
introducing a cell to the body by using a harmless virus that will then multiply throughout the
body to replace the target cells. Cell-based delivery uses stem cells to create genetically modified
cells that grow in a controlled setting, and then introduced to the body (“Use of Genetically
Modified Stem Cells in Experimental Gene Therapies” June 17, 2001). There is currently a
debate over whether embryonic stem cells, or adult stem cells are more effective and versatile in
a variety of cases (“Use of Genetically Modified Stem Cells in Experimental Gene Therapies”
June 17, 2001). Embryonic stem cells are considered to be more valuable because of their
pluripotent property, or having the ability to become any cell type, i.e. nerve, brain, organ cell
("Stem Cell Basics" March 3, 2015). Adult stem cells are limited in the fact that they can only
become particular cell type they originated from ("Stem Cell Basics" March 3, 2015). The
collection of embryonic stem is often a topic for heated debate. Embryonic stem cells are
typically gathered from unborn human fetal tissue and thus become associated with the debate
over abortion ("An Overview of Stem Cell Research | The Center for Bioethics & Human
Dignity" April 2005).
Because of the conflict of how embryonic stem cells are acquired, the woman is shown to
be in such a pose and particular lighting. She is posed starring out of a window because she is
representing a pregnant woman with a decision to make. The decision she is faced with, is
having an abortion for whatever the reason may be. Because of this sensitive issue, the lighting
and background are grey and monotone as sign of sadness. I adjusted the filter to make it slightly
warmer than the original photo because I am attempting to play on the theme of “making the
most of a bad situation”. The woman can make the best of her situation by donating the unborn
fetal remains to a center where they will be used or passed on for research. I included Planned
Parenthood as the donation cite because of their public attention in the recent months, both good
and bad. Planned Parenthood has recently announced that they will no longer be offering money
for fetal tissue donations ("Planned Parenthood Stops Taking Money for Fetal Tissue Donations"
October 13, 2015). This is a huge step forward for this program in order to gain the public
support once again.
As the woman looks to the right, she is in direct eye sight of the middle text area. The text
in the middle is thicker from the left most font, because I am attempting to emphasize the
progression of seriousness. The font on the left starts thin, as if the thought process of the woman
is unsure and shaky. She looks to the middle area for answers and the heavier text guides her.
The woman’s eye level is exactly at the level of ”Donate Today” and this is symbolic of being
“the answer” she is looking for. Because nobody wants to have an abortion, the thought of
donating makes the best of the difficult and tense situation. The darkest text is that of the contact
information for Planned Parenthood because I wanted to outline exactly where a donation could
be made. It also serves as an attention grabber at the bottom center of the billboard model for the
audience of the general public to see. By reading the billboard model, the public knows where to
refer a friend, or even inform themselves, should they be in the same situation as the woman.
Additionally, the heavy text serves as the final rung in the ladder of solutions for the woman and
her problematic situation. She can solve her problem of having an abortion by making a fetal
tissue donation to Planned Parenthood to benefit the research of genetic therapy.
The woman looks through the “Donate Today” text and to the child with Down
syndrome. The child with Down syndrome is shown to be very happy in this photo. She is very
happy because she notices the woman looking for answers, and sees that the woman is going to
choose to donate to the research center. With her donation, genetic disorders like Down
syndrome, may be cured through the embryonic stem cells the woman will be donating for
genetic therapy. The happy and smiling child also gives the woman two thumbs up as a sign of
her making the right choice. In the billboard model, the child supports the woman’s choice to
donate and furthers the woman’s reassurance that she is making the right decision. The bright,
unfocused background represents a bright, yet unclear future for not only the woman but the girl
with Down syndrome. The future is unclear because of the fact that while genetic therapy is not
yet legal, nor has it been used to treat Down syndrome, the continued research and funding will
hopefully someday reach this point. Both are benefitting from the woman’s choice because of
how her decision will positively impact their lives. The edges of each photo are softened slightly
to represent the sensitivity of the issue at hand. While the issue is sensitive, the woman is
surrounded by answers and reassurance of her decision.
The billboard model on its own, is a very simplistic design. The simplistic design has
been used to convey a very powerful message without the use of strong and emotional words
such as “abortion” or “stem cells”. The reason for this is because with the audience being the
general public, it is crucial to inform without scaring or emotionally charging them. It is only
when the audience focuses in on the literacy of the billboard model and begins to carefully
examine how the model represents to the positive impacts of genetic therapy.
References
OLD
"What Is Gene Therapy?" Genetics Home Reference. November 2, 2015. Accessed November 9,
2015. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/therapy/genetherapy.
NEW (SCHOLARLY)
Hernandez, Diana, and Elizabeth Fisher. "Down Syndrome Genetics: Unravelling a
Multifactorial Disorder." 1996.
http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/content/5/Supplement_1/1411.full.
Lee, Brendan. "Gene Therapy Grows Into Young Adulthood: Special Review Issue." Human
Molecular Genetics 20, no. 1 (2011). Accessed November 8, 2015.
http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/content/20/R1/R1.extract#.
Skene, Loane. The Sorting Society: The Ethics of Genetic Screening and Therapy. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2008.
"11. Use of Genetically Modified Stem Cells in Experimental Gene Therapies." Stem Cell
Information. June 17, 2001. Accessed November 9, 2015.
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/pages/chapter11.aspx.
"An Overview of Stem Cell Research | The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity." An
Overview of Stem Cell Research | The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity. April 1,
2005. Accessed November 9, 2015. https://cbhd.org/stem-cell-research/overview.
"Stem Cell Basics." What Are the Similarities and Differences between Embryonic and Adult
Stem Cells? [Stem Cell Information]. March 3, 2015. Accessed November 11, 2015.
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/pages/basics5.aspx.
NEW (NON-SCHOLARLY)
Ferris, Sarah. "Planned Parenthood Stops Taking Money for Fetal Tissue Donations." The Hill,
October 13, 2015. Accessed November 9, 2015.
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/256752-planned-parenthood-will-no-longer-acceptreimbursement-for-fetal-tissue.
