A cell that has the ability to continuously divide and differentiate (develop) into various other kind(s) of cells/tissues
Introduction
Dramatic advances of modern molecular genetics Should we ask the morality questions before attempting the can we questions?
What are stem cells? History of stem cell/cloning research Possible uses of the technology Current status/knowledge Questions and known problems Legal considerations Politics Moral considerations
Description
Examples
Cells from early Each cell can develop (1-3 days) into a new individual embryos
Pluripotent Pluripotent
Multipotent Multipotent
Cells differentiated, Fetal tissue, cord but can form a number blood, and adult of other tissues stem cells
Stages of Embryogenesis
Kidney
Heart muscle
Heart repaired
In 1968, the first bone marrow transplant was successfully used in treatment of SCID
Since the 1970s, bone marrow transplants have been used for treatment of immunodeficiencies and leukemias
1954 John Enders received a Nobel prize in Medicine for growing polio virus in human embryonic kidney cells
In 1998, James Thomson (University of Wisconsin-Madison) isolated cells from the inner cell mass of the early embryo, and developed the first human embryonic stem cell lines.
In 1998, John Gearhart (Johns Hopkins University) derived human embryonic germ cells from cells in fetal gonadal tissue (primordial germ cells). Pluripotent stem cell lines were developed from both sources
1952 Briggs and King cloned tadpoles 1996 The first mammal cloned from adult cells was Dolly, the sheep. 1998 Mice cloned 1998 Cows cloned 2000 Pigs cloned
History of Cloning
CC Carbon Copy
2001 Cat cloned 2002 Rabbits cloned 2003 Mule cloned 2004 Bull serial-cloned 2005 Dog cloned
Replaceable tissues/organs
Repair of defective cell types Delivery of genetic therapies
Human mesenchymal stem cells turned on genes found in bone, cartilage, adipose, muscle, hematopoiesis-supporting stromal, endothelial, and neuronal cells.
Multipotent adult progenitor cells have been shown to differentiate into functional, hepatocyte-like cells.
Human neural stem cells can migrate extensively in the brain after injection.
Adult stem cells have been isolated from amniotic fluid, peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, umbilical cord, brain tissue, muscle, liver, pancreas, cornea, salivary gland, skin, tendon, heart, cartilage, thymus, dental pulp, and adipose tissue.
2001 First cloned human embryos (only to six cell stage) created by Advanced Cell Technology (USA)
2004* Claim of first human cloned blastocyst created and a cell line established (Korea) later proved to be fraudulent
*Hwang, W.S., et al. 2004. Evidence of a Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cell Line Derived from a Cloned Blastocyst. Science 303: 1669-1674.
Retinal
Bone
Cartilage
Epithelial
Advantages
No rejection Prefect match Only 10% of cloned oocytes became embryos 0% (0 out of 2061) survived to become a cell line Genetic donor was same as egg donor (i.e., wont work for males!) Cost is high (health insurance probably won't pay)
Problems
It is uncertain that human embryonic stem cells in vitro can give rise to all the different cell types of the adult body.
It is unknown if stem cells cultured in vitro (apart from the embryo) will function as the cells do when they are part of the developing embryo
Stem cells need to be differentiated to the appropriate cell type(s) before they can be used clinically.
Recently, abnormalities in chromosome number and structure were found in three human ESC lines.
Stem cell development or proliferation must be controlled once placed into patients.
Possibility of rejection of stem cell transplants as foreign tissues is very high.
1994 the Human Embryo Research Panel favored research, but Clinton overrode the panel
1995 Congress banned federal funding
August 25, 2000, President Clinton allowed funding of research based on cells from (aborted) human fetal lines, but not embryonic cells
On August 9, 2001, President Bush announced his decision to allow Federal funds to be used only for research on existing human embryonic stem cell lines created prior to his announcement
Right to Life
The Declaration of Independence of the United States guarantees certain unalienable Rights, that among those are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness
2003 proposal to ban reproductive and research cloning worldwide was tabled by the United Nations following objections by Great Britain and other countries
The proposal will be taken up again in 2004, but dropped
Michael Reagan
Congress John Kerry
Run by an Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee composed of politicians, advocacy groups, and executive officers of universities
Indebted the state of California for $3,000,000,000 in State General Obligation Bonds
ICOC requires grantees to purchase goods and services from California suppliers (> 50%)
Established real estate development and facilities construction for research (up to 10% of total funding)
Although the initiative purported to fund all manner of stem cell research, a clause prevents funding of any stem cell research other than embryonic stem cell research:
other research categories funded by the National Institute of Health shall not be funded by the Institute
Nancy Reagan pushing embryonic stem cell research as cure for Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is due to pathology that spreads from affected cells to healthy cells Stem cell treatments, if they worked, would also become abnormal shortly after treatment
my father, as I do, opposed the creation of human embryos for the sole purpose of using their stem cells as possible medical cures.
Called media references to ESC cures as junk science. Quoted ESC researchers who say that ESC are unlikely to cure Alzheimers Disease
206 representatives said that the current policy, instituted by Bush in August 2001, have slowed potentially lifesaving research (4/30/04)
58 Senators (including 14 Republicans) called for President Bush to reverse his ESC policy (6/4/04)
While the Bush administration has politicized science, Kerry will put America back on the path of scientific excellence with a commitment to scientific research based on fact not ideology.
Human cloning
Those who are in a coma Elderly with degenerative disorders (Alzheimer's, etc.) Mentally deficient
Definition of Personhood
Definition of Personhood
Newborns lack the ability to perform personal functions in fact, newborn humans are less capable physically and mentally than virtually all other mammals
Therefore, on the basis of functionally-defined personhood, newborns fail the test could be killed on the basis of nonpersonhood
Fertilized eggs are single cells, like blood cells or other parts of the body This single cell is unique from both the fathers and mothers cells and is the beginning of every new human being
Rebuttal:
Embryos are only potential life. Most do not result in births 25-33% of women become pregnant in the first month 33% of implanted embryos die before birth There are countries in which over 25% of children die before age 5. Should we allow killing of children?
Rebuttal:
Proponents of human embryonic stem cell research say that embryos from IVF are going to be discarded and, so, should be used for research
Prisoners on death row are also going to die, so why not do research on them?
"Did not He who made me in the womb make him, And the same one fashion us in the womb? (Job 31:15) Yet Thou art He who didst bring me forth from the womb Thou hast been my God from my mother's womb. (Psalms 22:9-10) For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:13-16) See also Isaiah 44:2, 24
John the Baptist: "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine or liquor; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, while yet in his mother's womb." (Luke 1:15)
Paul: But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace (Galatians 1:15)
Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)
People are not to be murdered because they are created in the image of God. (Genesis 9:6)
Murder must be intentional, with premeditation (Joshua 20:3) Killing of embryos is intentional, and premeditated
The Bible indicates that God recognizes human beings as persons prior to development in the womb
Bible defines murder as being intentional and premeditated ESC research destroys embryos that are considered as ensouled human beings
Be fruitful and multiply assumed to be natural, but IVF and cloning not mentioned in the Bible
Problems with cloned animals most suffer premature aging and other genetic problems. Might be avoidable with better techniques?