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