Stem Cell ResearchStem Cell Research

By: Kari MacQuarrieBy: Kari MacQuarrie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?vhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPulEAryPO0&feature=related=tPulEAryPO0&feature=related

DefinitionDefinition

• According to Medical News Today, "Stem According to Medical News Today, "Stem cells are a class of undifferentiated cells cells are a class of undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types." specialized cell types."

• Have potential to develop into various types Have potential to develop into various types of cells -may serve as a cell "repair system"of cells -may serve as a cell "repair system"

• Divide in order to rebuild lost or damaged Divide in order to rebuild lost or damaged cells inside a living mammalcells inside a living mammal

• A cell without a particular function=able to A cell without a particular function=able to divide and transform into a cell with a divide and transform into a cell with a specialized functionspecialized function

Definition Cont.Definition Cont.

• A stem cell line can be manipulated A stem cell line can be manipulated into directed differentiation into directed differentiation

• Displays potency by providing new Displays potency by providing new blood cells and immune cellsblood cells and immune cells

• Categorized into two different types Categorized into two different types of cells: Embryonic stem cells and of cells: Embryonic stem cells and Adult (somatic) stem cellsAdult (somatic) stem cells

BackgroundBackground• 1981 scientists discovered the use of stem cells 1981 scientists discovered the use of stem cells

on mice embryo experiments on mice embryo experiments

• Culture dish coated with the mouse embryonic Culture dish coated with the mouse embryonic skin cells (feeder layer) and release the skin cells (feeder layer) and release the nutrients for the culture mediumnutrients for the culture medium

Background Cont.Background Cont.

• Developed the use of human embryonic Developed the use of human embryonic stem cells due to the risk of transferring stem cells due to the risk of transferring viruses from the miceviruses from the mice

• Human embryo stem cell research and Human embryo stem cell research and experimentation in 1998 (embryo experimentation in 1998 (embryo initially created with in vitro fertilization)initially created with in vitro fertilization)

• In 2006, Scientists adult stem cell break In 2006, Scientists adult stem cell break through developing into a new cell statethrough developing into a new cell state

Adult Stem CellsAdult Stem Cells

• Found in different types of tissue such as Found in different types of tissue such as bone marrow, blood, blood vessels, the bone marrow, blood, blood vessels, the skin, liver and brainskin, liver and brain

• Commonly thought to be limited in the Commonly thought to be limited in the ability to differentiate according to their ability to differentiate according to their origin of tissueorigin of tissue

• Rare in mature tissues and difficult to Rare in mature tissues and difficult to expand their numbers expand their numbers

• Less likely to be rejected by the immune Less likely to be rejected by the immune system after transplantationsystem after transplantation

Adult Stem Cells Cont.Adult Stem Cells Cont.

• According to National Institutes of According to National Institutes of Health, "Scientists now have Health, "Scientists now have evidence that stem cells exist in the evidence that stem cells exist in the brain and the heart. If the brain and the heart. If the differentiation of adult stem cells can differentiation of adult stem cells can be controlled in the laboratory, these be controlled in the laboratory, these cells may become the basis of cells may become the basis of transplantation-based therapies."transplantation-based therapies."

Embryonic Stem CellsEmbryonic Stem Cells

• 4 or 5 day old embryo known as a 4 or 5 day old embryo known as a blastocyst (extra in-vitro fertilization blastocyst (extra in-vitro fertilization material)material)

Embryonic Stem Cells Cont.Embryonic Stem Cells Cont.

• Blastocyst inner mass (embryoblast) = bunch of Blastocyst inner mass (embryoblast) = bunch of cells which develop into structures of an adult cells which develop into structures of an adult organism (direct source that embryonic stem organism (direct source that embryonic stem cells are collected from)cells are collected from)

• Blastocyst outer mass (trophoblast) = develops Blastocyst outer mass (trophoblast) = develops into a part of the placenta into a part of the placenta

• Embryo combined with nutrients (culture Embryo combined with nutrients (culture medium) in a culture dish the embryo divides medium) in a culture dish the embryo divides itself while maintaining an ability to become itself while maintaining an ability to become any cell type in the human bodyany cell type in the human body

• Pluripotent = Capable of being manipulated into Pluripotent = Capable of being manipulated into any cell type of the human bodyany cell type of the human body

Catholic PositionCatholic Position• Against the manipulation of embryonic stem cell Against the manipulation of embryonic stem cell

research= due to its evident subjection and research= due to its evident subjection and destruction of a potential life destruction of a potential life

• Supports the utilization of adult stem cell Supports the utilization of adult stem cell research= due to the liberal consent given by the research= due to the liberal consent given by the subjectsubject

• "They naturally exist in our bodies, and they "They naturally exist in our bodies, and they provide a natural repair mechanism for many provide a natural repair mechanism for many tissues of our bodies. They belong in the tissues of our bodies. They belong in the microenvironment of an adult body, while microenvironment of an adult body, while embryonic stem cells belong in the embryonic stem cells belong in the microenvironment of the early embryo, not in an microenvironment of the early embryo, not in an adult body where they tend to cause tumours and adult body where they tend to cause tumours and immune system reactions.“ (Priests for Life)immune system reactions.“ (Priests for Life)

Catechism of the Catholic Catechism of the Catholic ChurchChurch

• ““It is immoral to produce human It is immoral to produce human embryos intended for exploitation as embryos intended for exploitation as disposable biological material." (2275)disposable biological material." (2275)

• "God alone is the Lord of life from its "God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end; no one can beginning until its end; no one can under any circumstance claim the under any circumstance claim the right directly to destroy an innocent right directly to destroy an innocent human being." (2258)human being." (2258)

Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II

• "This responsibility is of increasing "This responsibility is of increasing importance in our modern society with importance in our modern society with its growing embrace of the "culture of its growing embrace of the "culture of death," a culture that endorses the death," a culture that endorses the destruction of human life in the womb destruction of human life in the womb and promotes the creation of human and promotes the creation of human life in order to destroy it for the sole life in order to destroy it for the sole purpose of harvesting parts." purpose of harvesting parts."

The Congregation for the The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF)Doctrine of the Faith (CDF)

• "No objective, even though noble in itself, "No objective, even though noble in itself, such as a foreseeable advantage to science, such as a foreseeable advantage to science, to other human beings, or to society, can in to other human beings, or to society, can in any way justify experimentation on living any way justify experimentation on living human embryos or fetuses, whether viable human embryos or fetuses, whether viable or not, either inside or outside the mother's or not, either inside or outside the mother's body." (body." (The Instruction on Respect for The Instruction on Respect for Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreationof Procreation))

Scripture Scripture • Scripture provides faith in life and faith of the unborn Scripture provides faith in life and faith of the unborn

lifelife• ““I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against

you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” (Deut. 30: 19-20)Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” (Deut. 30: 19-20)

• ““Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” (Luke ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” (Luke 1:39-44)1:39-44)

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

• When does life begin?When does life begin?• Are we playing God by taking the Are we playing God by taking the

potential life of another to help potential life of another to help someone else?someone else?

• Is there a place for science and religion Is there a place for science and religion to exist together? Or do they belong to exist together? Or do they belong separately?separately?

• Is it morally acceptable to manipulate Is it morally acceptable to manipulate animal stem cells instead?animal stem cells instead?