Since the advent of embryonic stem cells, scientists all over the world have tried to come to terms with the endless possibilities these cells hold, harnessing them to create synthetic organs, and cure previously incurable diseases. However, embryonic stem cells face much opposition in terms of the ethics involved in obtaining these cells from both embryos and mothers, as well as the possible health risks associated with them. Even so, this field shows a great deal of promise, and should not be disregarded solely due to these issues.
Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) have a rare senescent ability to divide infinitely (Rippon & Bishop, 2004) and differentiate into any cell type (are pluripotent). As the name suggests, they are derived from excess embryos or blastocysts from IVF treatments (Fig. 1); specifically from the inner cell mass- a small clump of 30 cells in the hollow blastocyst (Rippon & Bishop, 2004). These cells are then cultured on an inert sterile nutrient-rich culture medium and are incubated at 37℃ (to maintain optimum temperature for various processes) withs oxygen (LeCornu & Diercks 2009), and passaged after achieving adequate confluence thus -preventing contact inhibition (Stevenson, 2009). Furthermore, as hESCs have a tendency to spontaneously differentiate, they are often grown with feeder cells (MEFs) that provide them with LIF (Leukemia-Inhibitory Factor), a growth factor responsible for inhibiting differentiation in hESCs, whilst allowing proliferation (Niwa, 2004). After large numbers of hESCs are formed, they may be cultured with certain growth factors and stimulated to differentiate into specific cells. These cells can then be used in regenerative treatment for various diseases, and even to synthesi...
... middle of paper ...
...ancers) developed in engrafted human tissue injected with hESCs, the likelihood of hESCs causing ‘aggressive tumors’ (Verloes et. al., 2011) in humans is increased. This possibility of hESCs developing into cancer seriously questions patient safety, raising concerns on the safety of such a new technology.
However, such scientific issues will be overcome with advances in technology and further research, and the majority of people believe that the ethical obligation to preserve current life, and the related economic and social benefits from this, far outweigh the moral injustices of destroying embryos. In the face of large-scale death and suffering caused by diseases, embryonic stem cell treatments (regenerative treatment and therapeutic cloning) could signal a new beginning for society and a new solution. A solution that is only possible with further research.
“The vast potential of human embryonic stem cells does not come without a cost: a human embryo.” (Introduction)
Stem Cells: What, How and Why? Stem cells are infinitely valuable when considering their potential applications in the medical profession. While current legislative restrictions have halted the development of new ?stem cell lines? to any agency or company that receives any form of governmental grants, there is no question that the medical profession is standing at the brink of a new era of technological advancements in healthcare and research.
Late one night a woman is driving home on the freeway, she’s hit head on by a drunk driver and killed. The man is charged with two accounts of murder; the woman, and her four-week-old embryo inside her. By law, everyone human being is guaranteed rights of life; born or unborn they are equal. The same law should be enforced concerning human embryonic stem cell research. Dr. James A. Thomson discovered stem cells in 1998 and they’ve intrigued scientist ever since. The stem cells themselves are derived from a three to four day old cluster of cells called a blastocyst and they are so coveted because they are pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into any type of cell in the human body. Although embryonic stem cells show amazing potential to cure various disease such as cancer, congestive heart failure, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophies, and more. The methods by which they are obtained is controversial. Research on embryonic stem cells is unethical, unnecessary, and purely homicide.
Stem cells are pluripotent cells of the body which are “undifferentiated.” This means that stem cells can ultimately give rise to any type of body tissue. Thus stem cells have the potential to cure a vast number of diseases and physical ailments including Parkinson’s, diabetes, spinal cord injury, and heart disease. Consequently, stem cell research and the development of associated medical applications are of great interest to the scientific and medical community. The area of stem cell research involving human embryonic stem cells is of particular interest in that embryonic stem cells are derived from week-old blastocysts developed from in vitro fertilized eggs. As opposed to adult stem cells, which must undergo a complicated process of de-differen...
Sophisticated methods of testing are now being applied to human cells in petri dishes. Human volunteers are also being used and micro dosed with samples so small that they do not cause adverse reactions. The argument exists that these alternative testing methods are not only more cost effective but also more relevant because they are conducted using human cells and specimens; a method that isn’t hindered by species differences. In addition, computer generated models are being used to produce virtual reconstructions in order to test toxicity. Computer generated models cannot suffer the abuse nor can they that animals can. It is unfortunate that the law doesn’t require the use of valid alternatives, even if they are
Although some find embryonic stem cells unethical, supporting embryonic stem cell research will benefit humankind in many aspects.
The ethical dilemma raised by abortion has led scientists to look for an alternative to embryonic stem cells in which the killing of humans is not involved. Induced ...
The ethical issues behind the method in which stem cells are obtained out weigh the benefits of stem cell therapy. We should not try to play God, in the aspect of creation of living beings just to be sacrificed for the “betterment of mankind”. Many egregious acts have been committed under the guise of “the greater good”. This is one instance in which the ends do not justify the means.
Since adult stem cells cannot do much for research or clinical use, researching ways that embryonic stem cells can be used has become a necessity. Adult stem cells can produce only a limited number of cell types, while embryonic cells have an unlimited capacity for self-renewal and can be used to replace damag...
Those who favour stem cell research are optimistic about the continued developments in stem cell research will open doors to many breakthrough discoveries in biomedical science. The scientific and ethical questions arise as rapidly as the reaching of milestones in stem cell research. There are two main types of stem cells, namely embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells in our body. But they have restricted-range of cells that they can further differentiate. On the contrary, embryonic stem cells have the ability to differentiate into nearly two hundred cell types in the human body, called pluripotency. The process of harvesting embryonic stem cells involves destruction of embryos (Mooney, 2009).
...of IR exposures” (Soklov 15701). It is important for researchers to be able to study stem cells so that they can continue to find measures that can prevent cell death and malformations in mothers and fetuses.
Could you imagine being able to create new organs, tissues, muscles, and even food? With embryonic stem cell technology, believe it or not, these things are possible. Stem cells are the body's raw materials. Specifically, they are cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. Under the right conditions in the body or in a laboratory, stem cells can divide to form more cells called daughter cells. These daughter cells either become new stem cells or turn into specialized cells with a more specific function, such as blood cells, brain cells, muscle cells or bone cells. The possibilities are almost endless. The debate and main issue with this technology is that the actual stem cells come from embryos. Embryos are an unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development. Although there is controversy surrounding these cells, embryonic stem cells should continue to be researched and used, because they have so much potential.
Stem cells offer exciting promise for future therapies, but significant technical hurdles remain that will only be overcome through years of intensive research. Stem Cells have the incredible potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. Scientists primarily work with two kinds of stem cells from animals and humans. The embryonic stem cells and the non-embryonic stem cells. Stem cells are the cells from which all other cells originate. In a human embryo, a large portion of the embryo’s cells are stem cells. These stem cells can be used for cell-based therapies. Cell-Based therapies are treatments in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or destroyed cells or tissues. Stem cells are versatile and offer the possibility to treat a number of diseases including Alzheimer’s, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc. The problem is that for the process of embryonic stem cell research and embryo will be destroyed if used. This raises a moral issue and questions of whether stem cell research is unethical or not.
...there are some risk factors in using stem cell for therapeutic approaches, hematopoietic stem cell therapy by bone marrow transplantation has already been proofed to be safe if donors’ background and screening, cell contamination, HLA matching and opportunistic or nosocomial infections during immunocompromised period were carefully monitored and controlled. Still, other types of stem cell therapies, despite of their good therapeutic efficacy, are remain in experimental stage and need more data to support and demonstrate the safety in clinical trials. More understanding of stem cell biology is also required in order to keep stem cell under controlled and avoid some complications that they might cause. So, to pave the way for successful stem cell therapy, research in this extent is needed to pursue to maximized therapeutic efficiency with highest safety in patients.
The procedures that will be the future of modern medicine currently fall into the realms of taboo and fictional. These procedures encompass every aspect of medical science, from exploration of the human body, curing diseases, to improving a person’s quality of life. Many of these procedures are not very well known, while a few have been in the spotlight. These procedures include cloning, nano-robotics, retro-viruses, and genetic manipulation via gene-specific medications. For any serious breakthroughs in modern medical science, we must embrace these new forms of treatment instead of shying away from them. Second, I’ll attempt to explain how these methods and procedures could benefit mankind.