Use
and Regulation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Executive Summary
Macalester College
Committee Members:
Mike Cosimini
Jeremy Cover
Tiffany Eagar
Cara Harwood
d
Manuela Insixiengmay
Pam Romanowsky
Steve Schaub
Miranda Smith
I. Overview of the TechnologyOVERVIEW OF THE TECHNOLOGY
What is a stem cell? According to the Nation Institute of Health stem cells “are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods; they are unspecialized; and they can give rise to specialized cell types.”[i] All humans and animals contain cells each ranging in function from epithelial cells to neurons. Despite this diversity, all cells originate from a single embryonic stem (ES) cell called a zygote. This zygote is totipotent, meaning it has the potential to become any type of cell[ii]. Another type of stem cell is the adult (somatic) stem cells, which differ from embryonic stem cells because they are usually bipotent or unipotent, meaning their function is limited to one or two tissue formations. Their purpose is to repair the tissue, via giving rise to new cells.
The discovery that all life stems
from on e original cell was a significant step in biomedical research. The first isolated stem cells came from
mice in the 1970s[iii]. Building on this discovery, in 1998
James Thomson from University of Wisconsin isolated and grew human embryonic
stem cells. John Gearhart from
Johns Hopkins University accomplished the same for germ cells. These advancements allowed other
scientists to study stem cells.
Within two years of research, scientists discovered that under certain
conditions, stem cell development could be directed towards specific cellstypes of tissue[iv].
Biomedical sciences have since
launched an attempt to specifically direct stem cell growth
and apply the product to prominent diseases. Once they have isolated the stem cell, scientists
can begin to study their potentialsTo accomplish this goal, the stem cells must first
be isolated.[v] One method for extracting amplifying the embryonic
stem cells is to remove
them from the womb embryonic
stem cells (visible 5 to 7 days of development) after fertilization
and grow them on Petri dishes where they would continue to divide. Using specific nutrients and
controlling other variables, scientists would try to differentiate the stem
cells into one of many tissues found in the body e.g., nerve cells, muscle
cells, and pancreatic islet cells.
(See Figure 1-1.)[vi]
Figure 1-1. Isolation and Development of Human ES Cells
Researchers hope to develop a
procedure where with which they would be able to take the
developed stem cell, or
sometimes a somatic stem cell, and regenerate the damaged tissue. This
process is often called cloning. fFor example, the new muscle cells, and could be injected it into the damaged muscle to encourage healing. The result of this procedure
would be to regenerate the damaged muscle cells and promote
healthy tissue formation. This
experiment was has been performed on mice and found to be
highly successful. (See Figure 1-2.)[vii]
Figure 1-2. Injection of Stem Cells into Mice
Possible applications for the
technology include: transplantation of organs, cancer therapy, diseases of the
nervous system, and more.Researchers hope that this technology will eventually be useful to people suffering from a
number of diseases. One
advantage of this procedure would be that if the patient donated the stem cells used to
regrow tissue in transplantations, reduced the probabilityies of rejection
would occurbe reduced. During chemotherapy to treat cancer,
the healthy cells along with the mutant cells are destroyed. This Stem cell technology could allows
healthy cells to be reintroduced into the body to regenerate healthy
tissue. Treating diseases of the
nervous system such as Parkinson’s disease, it would be possible to have
cells with the dopamine-producing nerve cells injected back into the brain.
While all these applications for the technology have been theorized, scientists
still need to research all the implications of the science and the possible
uses. Extended experimentations
and research are still needed to verify whether this technology would be
beneficial for humans. Although
many similar experiments have been conducted on laboratory animals, the medical
field is unsure of how these methods would affect humans. Without the possibility of
experimenting on humans, the full implications are still unknown. THIS PARAGRAPH
NEEDS TO BE CITED!
II.II.
Ethical IssuesETHICAL ISSUES:
While
the benefits and risks of stem cell research in terms of the people who donate
the eggs and the people who benefit from the research are very clear cut, the ethical issues
are much more difficult. Eventually we come down to These difficulties can be
summarized with a
few basic benefits and a few basic ethical concerns. From stem cell research we
can gain valuable medical incite insight which will lead to an increasedcould increase the
quality of human life. We also have an important ethical concern that we
are not respectingMany argue, however, that this research does not
respect the human life of the embryos from which we get the which give rise to stem
cells.
Research
with stem cells has not been proven to but is may lead to cures or therapy for
many injuries or diseases. Any injury or disease were cells are destroyed stem
cells could be helpful in replacing these lost cells. In some cases like white
blood cells adult stem cells could be used to do this but in many other cases
research in embryo stem cell research may be needed. It is believed that this
research could lead to cures or therapy for spinal injuries, heart disease,
Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, leukemia and possibly many more
as research continues. All these cures will if realized improve the quality of
human life.
Morally tThere are a few several issues withmoral questions in regards to
stem cell research. Generally the problem is that these human embryos are
destroyed for the benefits of others. This destruction is may be viewed as
immoral because these cells could lead have led to human life. It is also found offensive by
many religions.Many religions object to stem cell research on the
grounds that it is analagous to murder. These moral issues also vary
depending on the source of the embryos.
Existing
Stem cells
It
is believed that there are anywhere from 6-12 usable stem cell
lines that can be used for stem cell research. Research of these cells could
lead to important medical advances in the above listed diseases and potentially
be used in the future to treat them. However as with any stem cell research
there are concerns over the ethics of its use. The main concern is that it is
immoral to have destroyed these cells for research purposes so there continued
use is immoral. However, because the embryos have already been destroyed, most believe that there is no further harm in
using the cells to do valuable medical research.
Future
“leftover” embryos
While the existing stem
cells
lines’ fates is somewhat of a clear-cut issuehave not provoked a lot of
controversy, this is not so withthe same is not true for
future “leftover” embryos.
Current governmental policy does not allow funding for the creation of
more stem cell lines. The
administration believes that just because the practice of usingthe fact that researchers
have used ES cells
or EG cells, discarded from infertilization treatments ES cells or
EG cells has existed in the past, that alone does
not justify future use. In
addition, the view has been expressed that the use of these
“leftover” embryos degrades the value of human life. The embryos could possibly still become
human beings, or in the view of someand some believe they
are already. We would be destroyingIn this view, stem cell
research destroys a living being in the hopes that some unknown good may
come out of it. TAnd the fact that
this living being was going to be discarded still does not give us the right to
exploit the embryo and kill it for its natural resources.
On the other side of the
issue are those whoOthers believe that such development of
additional stem cell lines would not be immoral, and could be very beneficial
to human life. Since tThe
embryos are going to be discarded anyway, w. Why not allow them to help improve the quality
of life for all of humanity.?
These people
believe that Tthe possible benefits of research and
technology of ES could be very great, and this view is that limiting
the amount of research material limits our ability to improve and save
lives.
Development of embryos for research
Another level of stem
cell use has sparked even more heated debate. This involves the production of embryos purely for
scientific research. The ethical
problem that many people have with this idea is that it devalues human life. If we create human beings only to
destroy them for research, we may have crossed a significant moral line, because we could be. It is creating life only
to destroy it for our own benefit.
To counter this argument, supporters of such a plan point to the good
that could be obtained. More ES
cell lines could be obtained to provide a greater variety of subjects for
research. This variety of lines
could be the key to discovering the potential of stem cells. In addition, if cures or aids for
certain diseases were discovered, such practice would allow us to produce
lifesaving medicines or technology more quickly. With a greater amount of stem cells available, more could be
done to discover the possible benefits of the technology. This, of course, is an issue that is
very crucial and must be addressed in any policy concerning stem cell research.
Cloning
Recent debates surrounding cloning
(somatic cell transfer) have centered around the ethical applications of such a
procedure. Embryonic stem cell
research has been questioned for stopping the ability to produce life, yetwhile cloning is
the opposite end of this spectrum.
Producing life, or even just human parts, from a few cells within a
living body could lead to human cloning.
Some fear that tThis
could lead to a situation much like nazi Germany with a superior race cloning
to eliminate “all those
that are impuritiese.” Other concerns
involve the exact opposite worry, that clones would be
unhealthy, since existing
clones produced have shown exhibited problems such
as obesity and premature ageing.
Being able to produce human parts that match exactly with the existing
body could provide benefits, as malfunctioning organs could be replicated and
replaced, but at what cost? A
situation may arise in which human hearts and human lungs are grown in jars,
mass-produced, and sold to consumers.
Certainly, the ethical dilemma of
artificially creating human life brings up religious connotationsquestions. Even those who do not believe in God
admit that there is some sanctity in preserving natural life. Cloning human parts resembles this on a
somewhat smaller scale. This
debate points out that it may be morally wrong to produce humans for spare
parts, as the value of human life is degraded when artificial production is
implemented. The ethical
importance of where life begins can be debated with embryonic stem cell
research prior to birth, but when life is created from an original unusual source, such as somatic stem cell
cloning, the issue take on a more complex dimensionbecomes more complicated. The significance of cloning should be
studied much more before any sort of policy to allow it is adopted.
Application of Human Embryonic Stem Cell
Research
Existing Stem Cell Lines
Pros Cons
* There is helpful medicinal research being * These
stem cells are harvested in a
performed that improves the quality of life. * Just because an embryo has already
* These lines are already in existence, no been killed does not make its use
additional harm will be done. morally right.
Discarded Stem Cells
Pros Cons
* The embryos are going to die anyway, * The fact that the ‘living’ being
researchers might as well use them for some is going to die does not give us the
beneficial purpose.
right to exploit it.
Making Stem Cells for the Purpose of Research
Pros Cons
* This will allow for more stem cell lines * The paradox of creating life to
to be researched, and a more diverse selection. destroy it.
* Should a cure be discovered, it could be
produced more quickly.
Cloning
Pros Cons
* Human body parts can be produced * The question of morality in regards
that fit with the body as well as original to creating humans for spare parts.
part.
* Reproduce lost loved ones? *
Mutations that may arise
III. RecommendationsRECOMMENDATIONS
I. Permit the use of already derived
embryonic stem (ES) cell lines from discarded embryos.
Federal funding should be available for approved research using existing cell lines. Currently, federal funding is available only for this type of research using ES cell lines derived from discarded embryos created for the purpose of reproduction.
II. Permit the derivation of new embryonic stem cell and germ
cell (EG) lines for use in approved research from only two sources:
A. EG
cell lines from cadavericcadaver fetal tissue: Federal funding should
be available for derivation of new stem cell lines provided by aborted or
miscarried embryos. Written
consent must be attained from the mother or couple and it must be made clear
that the clinic cannot specify specific cell use or guarantee treatment of any
particular individual. The mother
or couple should be informed of basic information regarding general research
and protocol to be used with their cells if available. Fetal tissue may not be bought or sold
and the individual donating fetal tissue must be made aware that there will be
no financial compensation for their cell donation. It should also be made clear that consent or refusal of
donation will not affect future health care or the patients relationship with
the clinic. At any time aA representative from the clinic should be
available to answer any questions the mother or couple may have.
B. ES cell lines from embryos remaining after infertility treatments: Federal funding should be available for derivation of new stem cell lines from embryos remaining after in vitro fertilization for the purpose of reproduction. Options for use of unwanted embryos should be outlined to the mother or couple: freezing for future use, donation to another mother or couple, or disposal by the clinic. If and only if the couple decides to discard the unused embryos, they should be presented with the option of donating the embryos for stem cell research purposes. Written consent must be attained from the mother or couple and it must be made clear that the clinic cannot specify specific cell use or guarantee treatment of any particular individual. The mother or couple should be informed of basic information regarding general research and protocol to be used with their cells if available. Discarded embryos may not be bought or sold and the individual donating discarded embryos must be made aware that there will be no financial compensation for their donation. It should also be made clear that consent or refusal of donation will not affect future health care or the patients relationship with the clinic. The mother or couple should be aware that research with the embryos will result in their destruction and not implantation into another woman’s uterus. At any time a representative from the clinic should be available to answer any questions the mother or couple may have.
III. A committee should be established to oversee and approve all
research involving ES and EG cell lines funded both federally and by private
research institutions. The committee will be made up of diverse panel of
U.S. citizens, including research professionals, bioethical experts, and
members of the general public.
Frequent meetings will be required of the committee members, who will
retain membership for a period of no more than five years. Duties of the
committee will include:
A. Review and approval of all federally and privately
funded research proposals involving EG or ES cells. The committee should be in charge of maintaining a publicly
accessibly database including following information:
a. Submitted proposals and approval status
b. Protocols used in the derivation or usage of ES or
EG cells
c. A history tracking the source and usage of approved
cell lines.
B. The committee should be responsible for providing
guidelines for social and
ethical issues that should be considered in the
review of proposals for research that involve the use of ES or EG cells.
C. The committee will be responsible for evaluation of
ES and EG cell legislation, and will be required to submit suggestions for
legislative changes at least once a year.
D. After a five year period, the committee will assume
responsibility for determining the necessity for creating new cell lines
derived from embryos created solely for research purposes. Permission to derive
cell lines in this way will be granted after an in depth evaluation and
analysis of the circumstances, and will require the consent of at least two
thirds of the committee members.
E.
IV. At this time, federal funding should not be provided for the
derivation and use of ES lines created by somatic cell nuclear transfer. Any
privately funded research proposals in this area should be carefully evaluated
and closely supervised by the committee.