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Treatment of Embryos

Treatment of Embryos. What is an EMBRYO?. " Life is present from the moment of conception ." Dr. Jerome Lejeune, late professor and world renowned geneticist, University of Descarte, Paris. Different approaches to how we view the embryo. No special status whatsoever. A gradualist approach.

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Treatment of Embryos

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  1. Treatment of Embryos

  2. What is an EMBRYO? "Life is present from the moment of conception." Dr. Jerome Lejeune, late professor and world renowned geneticist, University of Descarte, Paris

  3. Different approaches to how we view the embryo No special status whatsoever A gradualist approach Full respect as a human being

  4. What ideas drive this lack of respect for the embryo? A right to a child Potentially unlimited cures Pursuit of knowledge without boundaries

  5. 3 Topics Covered: IVF Treatment Stem Cell Research Cloning

  6. What is IVF treatment?

  7. IVF explained… 1 2 3 4 Between 1 and 2 newly-fertilised embryos are placed into the womb of the woman The woman is injected with fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries Multiple eggs are produced (usually between 10-12) The eggs are fertilised in vitro

  8. Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART): 2) IVF (in vitro fertilisation) Number of individuals ESHRE Report 2001

  9. What happens to the other embryos? Destroyed Frozen Research

  10. Embryo Screening What is it all about? Deciding whether an IVF embryo will be healthy Creating a ‘Saviour Sibling’

  11. What if the Embryo Isn’t Perfect? It is Destroyed!

  12. It works like this …

  13. What do they test for? Genetic Medical Problems Like Downs Syndrome Haemophilia Muscular Dystrophy

  14. What could they test for if it were legal to do so? Things that our Genes can predict about us Like Intelligence Female/Male Risk of getting Cancer

  15. What could be wrong with Screening Embryos? Many lives are ended in the search for the perfect one. This does not cure disability/health problems, it makes sure that no one with them is born.

  16. Charlie had a rare form of anaemia called Diamond-Black Fan Anaemia. Applied to screen embryos for perfect blood match for an umbilical cord blood cell transfusion The Whittakers Charlie with ‘saviour sibling’ Jamie

  17. The Whittakers They were refused treatment, but went to America. Recently the Whittaker’s announced that the treatment was successful and that by using Jamie’s umbilical cord blood, Charlie has been cured.

  18. What are Stem Cells?

  19. Where do Stem Cells come from? Two Types: Adult and Embryonic Adult Stem Cells Embryo Stem Cells From: Developing Human Embryos From: Bone, Muscle, Blood, Fat, Nerves Over 75 Types of Treatments and Cures No Treatments or Cures

  20. How do they harvest Embryo Stem Cells? The human embryo is allowed to grow for 5-7 days. Scientists remove its cells and the embryo is killed. Every human being started as an embryo. Saying Embryo is no different than saying: Foetus, Baby, Toddler, Child, Teenager, or Adult.

  21. Stem cells: EMBRYONIC vs ADULT • EMBRYOS AS A TOOL FOR RESEARCH • From IVF • From elective abortion (not miscarriage)

  22. How do they harvest Adult Stem Cells? • From: • Fat Cells • Bone Marrow • Brain Cells • Blood • Umbilical Cord

  23. Stem cells: EMBRYONIC vs ADULT 2) STEM CELLS FROM ADULT TISSUES

  24. Why do scientists want to harvest Stem Cells? Many scientists believe that stem cells hold much promise for treating patients with serious diseases because stem cells might be "programmed" or coaxed into becoming many different kinds of tissues in the body.  So in theory, for example, if scientists could discover how to program stem cells to become spinal cord tissue, then stem cells could be prepared and injected into patients with spinal cord injuries and the stem cells could effect a repair of the damaged area.

  25. Why do Embryo Stem Cells have no results? They are rejected by the patient’s body They can cause tumours to grow

  26. Why is Embryo Stem Cell Research Controversial? Destruction of Life Humans Used as Resource Material

  27. What Kind of Cures have there been from Adult Stem Cells? Leukaemia Diabetes Heart Disease Kidney Failure Parkinson’s Disease Multiple Sclerosis

  28. How Do Adult Stem Cells Work? Heart tissue Neural Tissue Neurons Pancreas Cells Scientists have grown Adult cells in a lab and has stimulated them to change into nerve, heart and pancreas cells.   If other scientists can duplicate the process on a larger scale, it could reduce the need for embryonic stem cells in research and eliminate rejection problems associated with using stem cells from an outside donor."

  29. What is Cloning?

  30. What is Cloning? Reproductive Cloning: An embryo is cloned, implanted into a host ‘mother’ and allowed to grow and be born. Therapeutic Cloning: An embryo is cloned, the stem cells are taken out to be used for research, and the embryo is destroyed.

  31. Is it legal to clone humans? It is not legal to Reproductively clone humans. Reproductive Cloning can only be used on animals. It is legal to Therapeutically clone humans. Researchers clone human embryos and use their stem cells, then destroy the embryo before it can grow and be born.

  32. The History of Cloning 1996 - Dolly is cloned 2001 – Theraputic Cloning legalised by UK Government 2004 – UK gives research license to clone human embryos for stem cells

  33. Cloning process

  34. Is Reproductive Cloning Successful? NO • Over 90% of attempts fail • More health problems • Mysterious deaths

  35. Would it be OK to Reproductively Clone Humans? NO • A child created for a scientific purpose • The need for many attempts and terminations of attempts, resulting in loss of life • Putting the clone at risk of poor health, and mysterious death

  36. Is it OK toTherapeutically CloneHumans Embryos? NO  Human life is destroyed in the process Human life is being created for research only

  37. What do you mean ‘Human Life is destroyed?’ Is the embryo a Human Being? Is the Embryo Alive?

  38. New Scientific Discoveries are Always Exciting … But We Must Remember … While we seek to improve the lives of the ill and disabled, we must remember not to destroy the lives of those without a voice. Science is most advanced when it is ethical.

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