Ethical Implications Of Embryonic Stem Cells

Great Essays
Introduction:

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells that are derived from the inner cell mass

of a blastocyst. These cells have the potential to differentiate into any of the 3 embryonic germ

layers, and if cultured properly eventually can become any type of cell within the body. Due to

the controversy and ethical concerns regarding the use of ES cells, scientists have discovered a

way to generate pluripotent cells, by using Human Induced Pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC).

hiPSC are undifferentiated, embryonic stem cells - like cells that are derived from somatic cells.

These cells exhibit similarities in their morphology and gene expression which are also seen in

ES cells ( ). Another significant reason iPSC’s are preferentially used is due to the

capability of these cell to have unlimited regeneration.

The ability to induce pluripotency in somatic cells was discovered by the researcher Shinya

Yamanaka and his colleagues. After the differentiation of an embryonic stem cell into a mature

somatic cell, the somatic cell regulates its gene expression by transcriptionally silencing the

majority of the genes within its genome. Even though pluripotency genes are present

inside of all somatic cells, these genes are turned off. Yamanaka’s research team was able to
…show more content…
today is cardiovascular disease. Current treatment such as heart transplants, and diagnostics such as heart biopsies are still a major issue. Innovative research has shown iPSC derived cardiomyocytes to be effective in regenerative medicine, cell therapy, and in embryonic studies. The inability of Cardiomyocytes to self-re-generate and repair cells that have been damaged ultimately results in the formation of necrotic cardiac tissue. Without treatment, this dead and damaged tissue eventually becomes more severe, which ultimately results in cardiovascular disease progression, heart failure and eventually

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Why is it that some people don’t appreciate what they have until they lose it? To have the ability to use your arms, legs or even brain are unappreciated until a person loses that ability. Despite the fact that, what if there is a way to restore those parts of the body, including deadly illnesses. What would you do then?…

    • 1353 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Stem Cell Assignment 1. Summary of “Your Inner Healers” New scientific discoveries have shown that adult mouse cells can be “rewound” to once again be pluripotent like they were in their former embryonic state by adding a mixture of genes to the cells (called induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, or iPSCs). This contradicts the natural progression of cells’ potency as they age: in their early formation, embryonic cells have the ability to mature into any one of the 220 types of human cells, and soon after that they begin to lose potency and are only multipotent — able to develop into just a few different types of cells, until finally they become terminally differentiated, and therefore unable to develop into any other types of cells.…

    • 1720 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Great Essays

    In 1981, “Martin Evans of Cardiff University, UK, then at the University of Cambridge, is [was] first to identify embryonic stem cells - in mice” (“Stem Cell Timeline: The history of a medical sensation”). The cloning of Dolly, a Finn Dorset sheep, proved that cloning of mammals was possible when using a procedure known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Less than a decade later, a great breakthrough occurred when James Thomson with a group of scientists found the exact mixture and the right technique to withdraw stem cells from an embryo while keeping them viable. “By using the SNCT procedure to produce human embryos genetically matched to patients and using the techniques developed by Thomson to grow human embryonic stem cells, scientists hope one day to be able to replace or regenerate failing human cells and tissues without complication of tissue rejection” (Langwith 17). Thomson’s work laid a foundation for stem cell therapy, where healthy cells will replace diseased or dysfunctional cells.…

    • 1762 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Stem cells are cells that have the ability to differentiate into many different types of specialized cells. However, stem cells are not where the controversial and ethical debates come from (NIH). Embryonic stem cells are the potentially life saving, while life ending, solution that flares controversial debates from scientists, religious leaders, politicians, and everyone in between. Embryonic stem cells are stem cells derived from an human embryos that are around five days old and have the ability to reproduce through cell division as well as differentiate into any type of cell (NIH). Embryonic stem cell research has great rewards with the possibilities of cell based therapies and cures of more than ten life altering diseases, but also has great consequences of cell rejection and the destroying of human embryos (NIH).…

    • 1032 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Stem cell research can revolutionize medicine, more than anything since antibiotics.” This statement was said by former president of the United States of America, Ronald Reagan. Mr. Reagan in this statement was saying that stem cells are the future of medicine and can change how the medical field may approach a problem. Stem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into different kinds of cells. Stem cells have an internal repair system.…

    • 1178 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Embryonic Stem Cell Research Embryonic stem cell research is one of the most highly debated topics in modern day society; the possibility of recreating life using these pluripotent stem cells is a gigantic advancement in medical research. Former First Lady of the United States, Nancy Reagan said, “Embryonic stem cell research has the potential to alleviate so much suffering.”(“Brainy Quotes”). Though, it should not be taken lightly, for many issues spur over the use of embryonic stem cells for research; the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research should be permitted. They have the capability to save many lives, commence new biological discoveries, and will be carried out in accord with the new federal guidelines.…

    • 1306 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Although scientific research has come a long way since the beginning of time, it has not done so without some kind of controversy. From Biopsychiatry to the Tuskegee Experiments, it seems as though there cannot be any scientific breakthrough without some kind of ethical issue. Stem cells are another example of a controversial treatment that is taking the medical field by storm. Although it is very controversial, it’s results are truly amazing and beneficial to anyone who is willing to give it a try. Stem cells have the potential to divide into special cells through a process called “mitosis”.…

    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    While the scientific community often raves about the possibilities that embryonic stem cells pose for treatment of disease, most of the studies that have been performed using them have only shown minimal effectiveness. In fact, since these cells are totipotent and have not differentiated for any tissue type, these cells may not be good at detecting the environment they are placed in to know what kind of cell to become. Some researchers fear that these cells could actually be harmful if they do not become the correct cell type or if they do not stay in the location they were placed into (10). While these might simply be due to the lack of research using stem cells, it is not certain that these cells are actually as beneficial as they seem on first glance. If it turns out that these cells actually are not useful for treatments in the clinical setting, it would mean that numerous potential human lives were wasted for nothing.…

    • 1754 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Each year, 12.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer, another 7.6 million will die of cancer. Now imagine a cell that has the potential to change the world of medical treatment completely-- a single cell that has the ability of saving and restoring countless lives. Embryonic stem cell (ESC) research is a highly debated topic, which numerous people view as unethical due to the way some critics believe these cells are obtained; others view ESC research as the next step in medical advancement (Neal 1). What are embryonic stem cells? As their name suggests, ESCs come from a fertilized embryo.…

    • 1267 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Embryonic Stem Cells Essay

    • 1617 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Should the Federal Government Fund the Research of Embryonic Stem Cells Every day, people are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases like Alzheimer 's, Parkinson 's, and cancer, their cells are literally fighting against themselves. One way this can be corrected is with the use of stem cells. Stem cells are an undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism that is capable of developing into an indefinite amount of cells of the same type. There are two prominent types of stem cells, embryonic and adult stem cells. Adult stem cells are found in adults, children, babies, placentas, cadavers, and umbilical cords and can be extracted without any harm to the individual.…

    • 1617 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There are different types of Stem Cells such as Embryonic, Somatic (adult) IPS induced pluripotent stem cells, bone marrow stem cells, and cancer cells. In this essay I am assessing criteria that are given concerning stem cells to give a general overview of the stem cells listed…

    • 1234 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Embryonic stem cells are derived from human embryos that were developed from fertilized eggs. These eggs are fertilized outside a living organism in environments such as a culture or test tube. Then, they are then donated to research with permission from the donor. In a women’s body an egg continuously divides into smaller cells, into what is known as blastocyst, when it is ready to be fertilized by human sperm.…

    • 1217 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Embryo Research Cons

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The use and research on embryonic stem cells is an extremely controversial issue. Today i will explore both sides of the argument and then come to a conclusion. Embryonic stem cells come from a blastocyst. A blastocyst is formed when the egg has divided into about 100 cells during development.…

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Adult Vs Embryonic

    • 1663 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Thus, human embryonic stem cells (hESC’s) are more desired by those conducting research. Research with hESC’s can lead to major cures, enhanced biological education, and more.…

    • 1663 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Stem Cells Essay

    • 726 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Stem cells are cells that have the ability to self-renew and differentiate to become a myriad of different cell types. They serve as an internal repair system, with the purpose of replenishing or damaged cells. They can be found in various microenvironments within the tissues called stem cell niches cells, some examples of these include include the brain, bone marrow, blood vessels, skin, teeth, heart, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord, etc. Typically, there are only a small number of stem cells in each tissue, and once they are removed their ability to divide and regenerate are limited. Stem cells, biologically, can constantly generate unaltered daughters, as well as have the ability to generate daughter cells will different and more restricted…

    • 726 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays