TOW #1 A First: Organs Tailor-Made With Body’s Own Cells

A First: Organs Tailor-Made With Body’s Own Cells

This is an interesting article from the New York Times about synthetic organs created out of a patient’s own cells. It is written by Henry Fountain, a writer for the science section of the New York Times for 17 years, usually covering engineering.   This article is about new technique is being researched and experimented with, using a synthetic scaffold of an organ and lacing them with a patient’s stem cells to ensure the body does not reject it and to grow and work like a natural organ.  The author uses the treatment of a cancer patient to both open and close his article, a sort of full-circle technique that utilises pathos for an audience that understands and knows the effects of cancer.  He uses quotes from several scientists for his article, perhaps to give the article more credibility.  The readers are most likely layman’s readers, those interested in scientific discoveries, but mostly those looking for alternatives to organ transplants and cancer treatments.  His diction is meant for the layman reader, explaining the science and terms for those not of the scientific field.  He most likely wishes to detail this new technique to the populace and inform them of this new development that may save the lives of many patients.  As for my opinion of whether he accomplished this purpose, I believe so.  His article is divided into five sections.  The first introduces the new technique using the recovering cancer patient and quite a bit of pathos.  The second explains the science and terms with a smattering of logos and ethos.  The third explains more about the actual technique used and the current research.  The fourth once again uses the original cancer patient, as well as a nice dose of both pathos and logos - “If it bleeds, it lives”, using repetition to enforce the idea that this new technique is unique, introducing a living organ.  And the fifth closes with a full-circle ending and where this research may take us.  

Here's a link for those interesting in the article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/health/research/scientists-make-progress-in-tailor-made-organs.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1&ref=science