Ericksen 1

Malory Ericksen

Professor Kimberly Strickland

English 1010

November 18, 2011

Is Stem Cell Research Valuable?

The new millennium has brought many new advances in biomedical science. The human genome sequence was completed, improved drug discoveries were made, and microarray technology to measure thousands of genes in single experiments was invented. Among these achievements is the successful harvesting of human embryonic stem (hES) cells (Okarma, 1). These cells have unlimited potential. For example, they can allow permanent repair of failing organs by injecting healthy cells developed from human embryonic cells (Okarma, 1).This approach is known as regenerative medicine. However fruitful stem cell research may be, it is also a very controversial topic, especially in reference to human embryonic stem cells.

Breakthroughs

In 2007, Mario R. Capecchi, Martin J, Evans, and Oliver Smithies were given the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology thanks in large part to their discovery of gene modification in mice using embryonic stem cells (Castillo, www.experiment-resources.com). Capecchi devised a method to inject DNA directly into a cell’s nucleus, allowing transfer of genetic materials to other locations. Evans discovered that embryonic stem cells could be taken from early mouse embryos (Castillo, www.experiment-resources.com).

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

One reason for the controversy over stem cell research is the fact that stem cells are most commonly associated with embryos. Embryonic stem cells are taken from early embryos, usually within the first few days of life. To harvest them, the embryo must be broken apart, which results in death (Prentice, http://www.leaderu.com). Embryonic stem cell research can be helpful in finding cures for preventing cancers, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, birth defects, spinal cord injuries, and organ damage. The reason this research can help is embryonic stem cell research uses regenerative cells from an embryo which can reproduce any cell in the body. Embryonic stem cell research can be considered ethical because in the event of an abortion, some good for humanity can come. These types of research cannot be done on adult stem cells (www.embryonicstemcellresearch.org, 2010).

Despite the controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell research, these cells offer little in the way of treatment of disease. According to Dr. David A. Prentice, “Their supposed advantages, unlimited growth and potential for forming all tissues, are hindrances when it comes to transplants to repair damaged tissue.” When transferred into an experimental animal, these cells generally behave untamed, and tend to form tumors or unwanted tissues (Prentice, http://www.leaderu.com). Because of these unwanted side effects, other avenues have been found to continue stem cell research.

“Blank” Embryonic Stem Cells

In 2005, Harvard scientists discovered that “blank” embryonic stem cells fused together with adult skin cells, instead of fertilized embryos, created a stem cell viable to treat diseases and disabilities (White, usliberals.about.com). This method doesn’t result in the death of a human embryo. This method is also known as therapeutic cloning, and is done in 9 steps:

1. An egg is obtained from a human donor.

2. The nucleus (DNA) is removed from the egg.

3. Skin cells are taken from the patient.

4. The nucleus (DNA) is removed from a skin cell.

5. A skin cell nucleus is implanted in the egg.

6. The reconstructed egg, called a blastocyst, is stimulated with chemicals or electric current.

7. In 3 to 5 days, the embryonic stem cells are removed.

8. The blastocyst is destroyed.

9. Stem cells can be used to generate an organ or tissue that is a genetic match to the skin cell donor (White, usliberals.about.com).

Although this method is more ethical in that it doesn’t harm the embryo, there are those who oppose it. It has been argued that the destruction of the blastocyst, which in essence is a laboratory-fertilized egg, is the murder of a human life. Pro-life organizations also argue that there is too little attention being paid to adult stem cell research. There is also the potential for stem cell extraction from umbilical cord blood (White, usliberals.about.com).

Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cells

At first, it seemed as though embryonic stem cells could be produced by implanting the nucleus of a patient’s adult cell into an oocyte, or unfertilized human egg, whose nucleus had been previously removed. This method, however, is highly inefficient. It would require hundreds of oocytes per patient (Wade, www.nytimes.com). In 2007, Shinya Yamanaka found a way to avoid using human oocytes. He found that by injecting four protein factors into a patient’s cell it would revert to the embryonic state. These cells are referred to as induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells (Wade, www.nytimes.com).

After much research, these iPS cells were found to be extremely unstable. They would be unsuitable for therapeutic use. A team led by Dieter Egli and Scott Noggle of the New York Stem Cell Foundation is going back to improving the original method of using oocytes to obtain patient-derived embryonic stem cells (Wade, www.nytimes.com). The research team noted that by implanting an adult nucleus into the oocyte, embryos developed much further, and progressed to the blastocyst stage. At this stage, embryonic stem cells can be harvested.

Progress

In March of 2009, President Barak Obama lifted the 8 ½ year ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. This helps pave the way for scientists. President Obama spoke to ABC News regarding his decision to overturn the ban on stem cell research:

"At this moment, the full promise of stem cell research remains unknown, and it should not be overstated….But scientists believe these tiny cells may have the potential to help us understand, and possibly cure, some of our most devastating diseases and conditions. Today, with the executive order I am about to sign, we will bring the change that so many scientists and researchers, doctors and innovators, patients and loved ones have hoped for, and fought for, these past eight years: We will lift the ban on federal funding for promising embryonic stem cell research. We will vigorously support scientists who pursue this research. And we will aim for America to lead the world in the discoveries it one day may yield” (Childs, abcnews.go.com).

Officials in the White House gave the National Institute of Health 120 days to develop a set of ethical guidelines in regards to stem cell research. A list of the ethical guidelines is available at http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/2009guidelines.htm.

With federal funding available now to scientists, the potential of these stem cells can be reached eventually. There will always be controversy surrounding the topic, and those who are for or oppose it. Overall, this research has the ability to prevent so many harmful diseases and conditions that threaten humanity, and possibly help put an end to unnecessary suffering of patients and families.

Bibliography

Prentice, Dr. David A., “The Real Promise of Stem Cell Research”. 2004. November 10, 2011. http://www.leaderu.com/science/promisestemcell.html

Castillo, Joan Joseph, “2007 Nobel Prize Medicine: Advances in Embryonic Stem Cells”. 2010. November 9, 2011. http://www.experiment-resources.com/embryonic-stem-cells.html

Wade, Nicholas, “After Setbacks in Harvesting Stem Cells, a New Approach Shows Promise”. October 5th, 2011. November 9, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/science/06stem.html?_r=4&ref=stemcells

White, Deborah, “Pros & Cons of Embryonic Stem Cell Research”. 2009. November 8, 2011. http://usliberals.about.com/od/stemcellresearch/i/StemCell1_2.htm

Holland, Suzanne; Lebacqz, Karen; Zoloth, Laurie. The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate: Science, Ethics, and Public Policy. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001.

“Embryonic Stem Cell Research – Pros and Cons”. April 20, 2010. November 16, 2011. http://www.embryonicstemcellresearch.org/embryonic-stem-cell-research-pros-and-cons.html

Childs, Dan, “Obama Reverses Course, Lifts Stem Cell Ban”. March 9, 2009. November 18, 2011. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Politics/story?id=7023990&page=1#.TsZ3iMNCq0s

National Institute of Heath, “National Institutes of Health Guidelines on Human Stem Cell Research”. July 7, 2009. November 18, 2011. http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/2009guidelines.htm