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Embryonic Stem Cell ResearchThe False Dilemma
Stem Cells
Initially, stem cells are those which develop into different cell types during growth.
Throughout life, stem cells repair damage done to our organs.
Three Unique Traits 1. Divide and renew 2. Unspecialized 3. Become specialized
Two Different Kinds Embryonic (ESC) Adult (ASC)
Embryonic Stem Cells
Basic Facts Derived from embryos
In vitro fertilization NOT from eggs fertilized in
a woman’s body
The Blastocyst Four to five day old
embryos
Adult Stem Cells
Basic Facts Derived from tissue samples as
opposed to destroyed embryos
Undifferentiated cell found among differentiated cells in a tissue or organ
Primary role is of maintenance and repair of the tissue to which they are associated
Similarities and Differences
Embryonic AdultPluripotent
Grown easily in culture
Transplant rejection unknown
Immortal
Morally controversial
Limited differentiation
Isolation is challenging
Presumably less likely to reject
Morally acceptable
Finite
Divide and Renew
Unspecialized
Become Specialized
Focusing in on Embryonic Stem Cells
A human embryo in the blastocyst stage of
development
15 Leading Causes of Death in the US (2005)
Rank Cause of Death Number % of Total Deaths
2005 Crude Death Rate
1 652,091 26.6 220.0
2 559,312 22.8 188.7
3 Cerebrovascular diseases 143,579 5.9 48.4
4 Chronic lower respiratory diseases 130,933 5.3 44.2
5 Accidents (unintentional injuries) 117,809 4.8 39.7
6 75,119 3.1 25.3
7 71,599 2.9 24.2
8 Influenza and pneumonia 63,001 2.6 21.3
9 Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis
43,901 1.8 14.8
10 Septicemia 34,136 1.4 11.5
11 Intentional self-harm (suicide) 32,637 1.3 11.0
12 Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis 27,530 1.1 9.3
13 Essential (primary) hypertension and hypertensive renal disease
24,902 1.0 8.4
14 19,544 0.8 6.6
15 Assault (homicide) 18,124 0.7 6.1
Diseases of heart
Malignant neoplasms
Diabetes mellitus
Alzheimer’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
The Dilemma
Opposition of ESC Research Controversy stemming from
ESC research has developed into a social and ethical challenge.
The status of the human embryo
Key Moral Issues in the ESC Research Debate
Opposing Views
1. Value of Life
Status of the Embryo Faustian Bargain: Cures at
the cost of the destruction of embryos
Human embryo (the blastocyst) deserves the same rights and respect as a human being
Right to life
Response to OppositionValue of Life
The human embryo deserves the same rights and respect as a human being. ✗Problem with this view: Assumptions that an embryo has not only the moral status of a person, but also a “super status” that outweighs the needs of others, and that it is a person’s genetic material alone that establishes his or her moral value
Opponents of ESC research argue that at this stage in development, an embryo is of the same moral value of a person.
Considering the Facts
Lacks the following:
Consciousness
Ability to experience surroundings
Potential to feel pain
EmotionsMemory
Ability to reason
Ability to imagine the future Physical resemblance to a person
The only trait of moral value is
human DNA
2. Pro-Life
The Pro-Life Perspective The majority of pro-lifers who
are opposed to funding ESC research base their opinions off of the belief that the money will go towards research dealing with aborted fetuses. A legitimate concern, but it
is entirely applicable in this context. A vast majority of ESC’s
used in medical research come from fertility clinics.
Pro-Life
The Real Issue
The real issue the pro-life advocates and opponents of ESC research should
consider is that of fertility clinics.
Fertility (IVF) clinics are the most readily available source of
embryos for stem cell research
Infertility Treatment-Fertility hormones are taken to produce about 10-20 eggs at one time-Physicians harvest these eggs with a surgical procedure-Physician then attempts to create embryos out of all of the eggs-Fertilization often produces 8-12 embryos-Physician chooses the best embryos for implantation (about 3)
After Implantation/Excess EmbryosThe Real Issue: IVF Clinics
97% of American IVF clinics reported that they create more embryos than they intend to implant
If the excess embryos are not used for
research, nearly all will be disposed of
and destroyed. Some embryos may be kept frozen until (a) the couple has
reached/conceived their desired amount of children or (b) the
embryos are “adopted”
“Embryo adoption” takes place when embryos are implanted into an unrelated mother…
…as of 2005, only 81 children had been born
through embryo adoption
As for the embryos that were implanted…The embryos that were “good
enough” to be used for implantation now have to battle it out. Several are implanted with hopes that one will
survive.
In other words, several embryos are implanted with hopes that all but one
will NOT survive. Doctors take measures to ensure this will happen.
3. Alternatives
Adult Stem Cells The accumulation of AS cells
is often preferred because it does not involve the destruction on an embryo.
People get the impressions that AS cells are comparable to ES cells.
The Truth Behind Adult Stem Cells
Final Thoughts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujbLSt-7-9k