Stem cells- Facts and

• Human body is made up of different organs • Different organs are made up of tissues• Tissues are made up of cells • Nearly 210 different types of cells are present

in human body

~Cells

• In an adult body most of the cells got the ability for division

• It can form it's own types of cells Skin cells Skin cells

Liver cells Liver cells

• Self renewal • Unspecialized• Clonality • Can be induced to form specific cell types.

Injury , diseases & aging

Blastocyst

Stem cells

• All types of cells generated from stem cells

INjury or degeneratonAgng

SCAN – Stem Cell Action Network

Embryonic Stem Cells:Researchers extract stem cells from a 5-7 days oldResearchers extract stem cells from a 5-7 days old blastocystblastocyst..

Stem cells can divide in culture to form more of their own kind, Stem cells can divide in culture to form more of their own kind, thereby creating a stem cell rittyjose ne.thereby creating a stem cell rittyjose ne.

The research aims to induce these cells to generate healthy tissue needed by patients.

SCAN – Stem Cell Action Network

Tens of thousands of frozen embryos are routinely destroyed when couples finish their treatment.

These surplus embryos can be used to produce stem cells.

Regenerative medical research aims to develop these cells into new, healthy tissue to heal severe illnesses.

SCAN – Stem Cell Action Network

The Ethical DebateIn favor of ESCR:

Embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) fulfills the ethical obligation to alleviate human suffering.

• Since excess IVF embryos will be discarded anyway, isn’t it better that they be used in valuable research?

• SCNT (Therapeutic Cloning) produces cells in a petri dish, not a pregnancy.

Against ESCR:

In ESCR, stem cells are taken from a human blastocyst, which is then destroyed. This amounts to “murder.”

• There is a risk of commercial exploitation of the human participants in ESCR.

• Slippery slope argument: ESCR will lead to reproductive cloning.

SCAN – Stem Cell Action Network

Key Ethical Issues

• The blastocyst used in stem cell research is microscopically small and has no nervous system. Does it count as a “person” who has a right to life?

• What do various religions say about when personhood begins? Does science have a view on this?

• In a society where citizens hold diverse religious views, how can we democratically make humane public policy?

Possible Uses of Stem Cell Technology

• Replaceable tissues/organs• Repair of defective cell types• Delivery of genetic therapies• Delivery chemotherapeutic agents

Moral and Ethical Considerations of Stem Cell and Cloning Research

• Adult stem cells• Embryonic stem cells– Embryo must be destroyed– When does human life/personhood begin?

• Human cloning– Embryos (see above)– Reproductive cloning

SCAN – Stem Cell Action Network

Stem Cell Research Worldwide