Stem Cell Research

1
Stem Cell Research

• The Processes and Ethical Issues

2
What are stem cells?

• Has no specific function
• Differentiates into different types of cells
• Turns into mature cells from all organs in the
  body
• 2 types of stem cells
• Non-embryonic (adult stem cells)
• From born human
• Found in blood, bone marrow, baby teeth,
  umbilical cord blood, placenta, brain, liver, fat
• Embryonic
• From early stages of embryo (4-5 days)
• Known as blastocyst

3
Classification of Stem Cells

• Classes of stem cells
• Totipotent
• Differentiate into any type
• of human cell
• Can form placenta cells
• Pluripotent
• Differentiate into any cell in
• the body, after birth
• Cannot form placenta cells
• Embryonic stem cells
• Multipotent
• Differentiate into small number of cells
• Adult stem cells

http//www.kumc.edu/stemcell/images/background.jpg
4
Creating Embryonic Stem Cell Lines

• From embryos
• Inner cell mass (ICM) is taken from a blastocyst
• Single Cell Embryo Biopsy
• Single cell taken from ICM of
• blastocyst
• Nuclear Transfer
• Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer(SCNT)/
• Altered Nuclear Transfer (ANT)
• DNA of somatic cell transferred to
• egg
• Parthenotes
• Unfertilized eggs stimulated

http//dels.nas.edu/bls/stemcells/images/Nuclear-T
ransfer-Download.JPG
5
Issue Concerning Embryonic Stem Cell Research

• Life begins at conception
• Immoral to create an embryo to be destroyed
• No guarantee that it will lead to cures
• May be rejected by body
• Generate tumours
• Create a demand for eggs
• Exploit women
• Adult stem cells can be used instead

6
Arguments for Embryonic Stem Cell Research

• Certain amount of time before embryo can be
  considered human
• Embryonic stem cells created in lab can not grow
  into a body
• Adult stem cells are not as easy to use
• Not as versatile
• Small quantities and difficult to isolate

7
Legal Restrictions

• Legality varies from country to country
• Canada
• Legal to create new lines from leftover embryos
• Nuclear transfer is illegal
• Research leading to human cloning or human-animal
  hybrids illegal

8
Stem cells and the world

• http//www.mbbnet.umn.edu/scmap/monitor.jpeg

9
Potential of Stem Cell Research

• Make "tailor made organs for patient
• Can create disease specific cells for cell
  therapy
• Understand normal cellular development
• Can treat many conditions
• Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease, ALS,
  Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal cord injuries,
  blindness, diabetes and many others

10
Works Cited

• Alternate Methods for pluripotent stem cells.
  (2008, August 12). Retrieved December 10, 2008,
  from National Institutes of Health Web site
  http//stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/2006Chapte
  r8.htm
•  
• Altman, L. J. (2006). Bioethics Who Lives, Who
  Dies, and Who Decides. Berkeley Heights, NJ
  Enslow Publishers, Inc.
• A World of Approaches to Stem Cells. (2005,
  July). Scientific American, Retrieved December
  10, 2008, from Science Reference Center database.
•  
• Barber, N. (Ed.). (2002). Encyclopedia of Ethics
  in Science and Technology. New York Facts on
  File Inc.
• Black, L. (2006). The Stem Cell Debate. Berkeley
  Heights, NJ Enslow Publishers, Inc.
•  
• Canada Moves Stem Cell Law. (2004, March 19).
  Retrieved December 9, 2008, from
  http//www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/303/
  5665/1745d
• Des Cheres, E. (Ed.). (2007) Stem Cells. New
  York Thomson Gale.
• FAQs Stem Cell Information. (2008, September
  12). Retrieved December 14, 2008, from National
  Institutes of Health Web site http//stemcells.nih
  .gov/info/faqs.asp