1 / 10

Stem Cell Research

Stem Cell Research. The Processes and Ethical Issues. What are stem cells?. Has no specific function Differentiates into different types of cells Turns into mature cells from all organs in the body 2 types of stem cells Non-embryonic (adult stem cells) From born human

abel-casey
Download Presentation

Stem Cell Research

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Stem Cell Research The Processes and Ethical Issues

  2. What are stem cells? • Has no specific function • Differentiates into different types of cells • Turns into mature cells from all organs in the body • 2 types of stem cells • Non-embryonic (adult stem cells) • From born human • Found in blood, bone marrow, baby teeth, umbilical cord blood, placenta, brain, liver, fat • Embryonic • From early stages of embryo (4-5 days) • Known as blastocyst

  3. Classification of Stem Cells • Classes of stem cells • Totipotent • Differentiate into any type of human cell • Can form placenta cells • Pluripotent • Differentiate into any cell in the body, after birth • Cannot form placenta cells • Embryonic stem cells • Multipotent • Differentiate into small number of cells • Adult stem cells http://www.kumc.edu/stemcell/images/background.jpg

  4. Creating Embryonic Stem Cell Lines • From embryos • Inner cell mass (ICM) is taken from a blastocyst • Single Cell Embryo Biopsy • Single cell taken from ICM of blastocyst • Nuclear Transfer • Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer(SCNT)/ Altered Nuclear Transfer (ANT) • DNA of somatic cell transferred to egg • Parthenotes • Unfertilized eggs stimulated http://dels.nas.edu/bls/stemcells/images/Nuclear-Transfer-Download.JPG

  5. Issue Concerning Embryonic Stem Cell Research • Life begins at conception • Immoral to create an embryo to be destroyed • No guarantee that it will lead to cures • May be rejected by body • Generate tumours • Create a demand for eggs • Exploit women • Adult stem cells can be used instead

  6. Arguments for Embryonic Stem Cell Research • Certain amount of time before embryo can be considered human • Embryonic stem cells created in lab can not grow into a body • Adult stem cells are not as easy to use • Not as versatile • Small quantities and difficult to isolate

  7. Legal Restrictions • Legality varies from country to country • Canada • Legal to create new lines from leftover embryos • Nuclear transfer is illegal • Research leading to human cloning or human-animal hybrids illegal

  8. Stem cells and the world http://www.mbbnet.umn.edu/scmap/monitor.jpeg

  9. Potential of Stem Cell Research • Make "tailor made” organs for patient • Can create disease specific cells for cell therapy • Understand normal cellular development • Can treat many conditions • Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal cord injuries, blindness, diabetes and many others

  10. Works Cited Alternate Methods for pluripotent stem cells. (2008, August 12). Retrieved December 10, 2008, from National Institutes of Health Web site: http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/2006Chapter8.htm Altman, L. J. (2006). Bioethics: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Who Decides. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc. A World of Approaches to Stem Cells. (2005, July). Scientific American, Retrieved December 10, 2008, from Science Reference Center database. Barber, N. (Ed.). (2002). Encyclopedia of Ethics in Science and Technology. New York: Facts on File Inc. Black, L. (2006). The Stem Cell Debate. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc. Canada Moves Stem Cell Law. (2004, March 19). Retrieved December 9, 2008, fromhttp://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/303/5665/1745d Des Cheres, E. (Ed.). (2007) Stem Cells. New York: Thomson Gale. FAQs [Stem Cell Information]. (2008, September 12). Retrieved December 14, 2008, from National Institutes of Health Web site http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/faqs.asp

More Related