Kyle Rapps Dr.

Kaiser Biology Honors 10 January 2010 Stem Cell Research A stem cell is essentially the building block of the human body. Stem cells are capable of dividing for long periods of time, are unspecialized, but can develop into specialized cells (How Stuff Works). This being said, a stem cell is a type of cell that can morph into any other kind of cell in the body and act as if it was that cell. Stem cell research first began in 1981 when embryonic stem cells were isolated in mice. The major goals of this research are to use the stem cells that have been derived from humans because the cells have the potential to become any type of cell in the body and might one day be used to replace damaged or cancerous cells (States Take Lead). It is important to understand this research because it can be used to help people who are suffering from illness or disease. Stem cells, because they come from embryonic tissue, begin as a fertilized egg. The cells undergo a process called cleavage, where they rapidly divide. The cells then become what is called a morula. Once the cells have divided enough and are over one-hundred in quantity, it is called a blastula. The three germ layers then form and the cells are now a gastrula. The three germ layers are the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. The ectoderm is the outer layer of the germ embryo and eventually forms the skin, nerves, and brain. The mesoderm is the middle layer and will eventually form bone, muscle, and connective tissue. The endoderm is the inner layer of the germ embryo and will form the lungs and digestive organs. Cell differentiation is an important concept when dealing with stem cells. It is the

process where a cell that is not very specialized, like a stem cell, becomes more specialized, like the specific tissue of any organ. This process occurs in any multicellular organism during development and when less specialized cells come into contact with more specialized cells. The term stem cell is a broad term. There are multiple types of stem cells, each found differently. Some of these are embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells, or IPSC. Embryonic stem cells include those found within the embryo, the fetus or the umbilical cord blood. Depending upon when they are harvested, embryonic stem cells can give rise to just about any cell in the human body. Adult stem cells can be found in infants, children and adults. They reside in already developed tissues such as those of the heart, brain and kidney. They usually give rise to cells within their resident organs. Pluripotent stem cells are adult, differentiated cells that have been experimentally "reprogrammed" into a stem cell-like state (How Stuff Works). Because stem cells are able to become other kinds of cells, they are incredibly useful for treating different diseases such as Parkinson's disease or different types of cancer. They can be used to replace and repair diseases organs and tissue by replacing the original cells with stem cells. The first step in using stem cells for disease treatment is to establish stem cell lines, which researchers have accomplished. Next, scientists must be able to turn on specific genes within the stem cells so that the stem cells will differentiate into any cell they wish...Once scientists can create differentiated cells from stem cells, then there are many possibilities for their use, such as drug testing and cell-based therapies. (How Stuff Works). Stem cell treatment can be used to treat many different diseases. It has been or can be used to treat Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, diabetes, and

arthritis. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that can cause tremors, stiffness, and other movement and speech problems. Studies show that embryonic stem cells can give rise to the dopamine-making neurons that Parkinson's patients lack. Likewise, embryonic stem cells may come in handy against Alzheimer's disease, a progressive and deadly disorder that degrades and kills brain cells, leading to memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral problems. Stem cells may give rise to new treatments or even, some say, a cure (10 Diseases). Lou Gehrig's disease is a disease where the motor controlling neurons in the person's brain become damaged, and makes them unable to move. Stem cells may be able to restore these neurons and allow patients to move once more. The major controversy involving stem cells is that the cells themselves are taken from embryonic tissue. This tissue would normally have become a fetus and then later a human being. The debate is whether or not it is ethical to take this tissue for the use of the stem cells. Even though it has not developed into a full human being, some may argue that the embryonic tissue is still living and should not be used. Because of this controversy, many states have outlawed or put restrictions on the scientific research on stem cells. (See chart in back) After researching stems cells, I have learned many things on the process in which a cell develops, what stem cells are, what they can do, and what they can be used for. I believe that after learning all this, that stem cells are an important topic to research and that they may be able to help people in the future. There are many benefits to continuing the research on these cells. They might be the cure to many diseases and could also help to heal paralyzing injuries, such as spinal injuries. This technology will help to benefit many cancer patients and people who suffer from these diseases. This new knowledge means many things for people. It means that certain diseases that are

hereditary, such as Alzheimer's or in some cases Lou Gehrig's disease, can be prevented by stem cells and can help the people who would have inherited these illnesses to live full lives. Some others may not share the view I have, for religious or moral reasons, but I believe that stem cell research is a great thing and will help to aid many people.

Restricts Restricts research Consent Restrictions of Permits research on on fetus or embryo provision to purchase sale of research on aborted resulting from conduct research human tissue for fetus/embryo? fetus/embryo sources other than on fetus/embryo research ? abortion United States Alabama Alaska 8 Yes NA NA NA NA NA Yes, prohibits research on aborted living/nonliving embryo or fetus Yes, prohibits research on aborted live fetus NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Arizona

No

No

Yes, prohibits the use of public monies No for cloning for research Yes, prohibits research on cloned embryos

Arkansas

No

Yes, consent to conduct research on aborted fetus born dead

Yes, prohibits sale of fetus/fetal tissue

California

Yes, permits research on Yes, prohibits adult and research on embryonic aborted live stem cells from fetus any source

Yes, consent to donate IVF embryo to research

Colorado

NA

NA

NA

Connecticut

Yes, on embryos before gastrulation (a No process during embryonic development) NA NA No NA NA

Yes, consent to donate IVF embryo to research

Delaware District of Columbia Florida

NA NA

Prohibits sale of embryos and oocytes. Prohibits payment in excess of the amount of Yes, prohibits sale reimbursement of for the purpose of expenses to be made reproductive to any research cloning or for stem subject to encourage cell research. her to produce human oocytes for the purposes of medical research. NA NA Yes, prohibits payment for embryos, embryonic stem No cells unfertilized eggs or sperm donated following IVF treatment NA NA NA No NA No

Yes, prohibits on aborted No live fetus

Restricts Restricts research Consent Restrictions of Permits research on on fetus or embryo provision to purchase sale of research on aborted resulting from conduct research human tissue for fetus/embryo? fetus/embryo sources other than on fetus/embryo research ? abortion United States Georgia Hawaii Idaho 8 Yes NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Yes, prohibits sale of fetus/fetal tissue; prohibits purchase or sale of embryonic or fetal cadaveric tissue for research but permits reimbursement for removal, storage, and transportation for research.

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas Kentucky Louisiana

NA NA NA Yes, prohibits research on fetus/fertilized Yes, permits embryo; prohibits research on Yes, written funding under E.O. embryonic consent to Yes, prohibits 6 (2005) of research stem cells, perform research on aborted on fetuses from embryonic on cells or tissues living/nonlivi induced abortions germ cells and from a dead fetus ng fetus and the creation of adult stem other than from an embryos through the cells from any abortion combination of source gametes solely for the purpose of research Yes, permits Yes, prohibits fetal stem cell research on research on Yes, consent Yes, prohibits aborted placenta, cord required for fetal research on cloned living/nonblood, stem cell research embryos living embryo amniotic fluid or fetus or fetal tissue. Yes, ensure that Iowa patients have access to stem cell therapies and cures and No No No Iowa researchers may conduct stem cell research NA NA NA NA No No No No No No No Yes, prohibits research on fetus/embryo in utero, in vitro

Yes, prohibits sale of human ovum, zygote, embryo or fetus

Yes, prohibits transfer or receipt of the product of human reproductive cloning

NA Yes, prohibits sale of fetus/fetal tissue No

Restricts Restricts research Consent Restrictions of Permits research on on fetus or embryo provision to purchase sale of research on aborted resulting from conduct research human tissue for fetus/embryo? fetus/embryo sources other than on fetus/embryo research ? abortion United States 8 Yes NA NA NA NA

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi Missouri

fertilized embryo Yes, prohibits research on fetus/embryo born or extracted alive, No No No only applies to in vitro fertilized embryos postimplantation Yes, prohibits donation of unused Yes, permits Yes, written oocytes for state research on consent to donate funded cell research; adult and No unused IVF cloning of an embryonic material to organism beyond the stem cells research embryonic stage is prohibited Yes, written Yes, on consent to embryos that perform research Yes, prohibits have not on a dead fetus research on live Yes, prohibits experienced and informed embryo or fetus; research on more than 14 consent to donate also prohibits embryo/live days of egg, sperm, or creation of fertilized fetus development unused embryo solely for (not including preimplantation research days frozen) embryos created for IVF Yes, written Yes, prohibits consent of mother Yes, live research on a live No to donate dead embryo/fetus embryo or fetus, embryo, fetus or cloned embryo donate to research Yes, prohibits research on a live No No No embryo or fetus up to 265 post fertilization NA NA NA NA No Yes, prohibits No No research on a fetus alive

Yes, prohibits sale of fetus/fetal tissue

Yes, prohibits valuable consideration for the donation or production of IVF material

Yes, prohibits sale of neonate, embryo or fetus for illegal purposes; prohibits sale of embryos, gametes or cadaveric tissue for research

No

Yes, permits the sale/purchase of cell culture lines from nonliving human conceptus NA Yes, prohibits receipt of valuable consideration for

Restricts Restricts research Consent Restrictions of Permits research on on fetus or embryo provision to purchase sale of research on aborted resulting from conduct research human tissue for fetus/embryo? fetus/embryo sources other than on fetus/embryo research ? abortion United States 8 Yes NA pre-abortion Montana No Yes, prohibits research on a No live fetus Prohibits research on aborted live fetus or the use of state No funds for research on fetal tissue obtained from an abortion NA NA No Yes, limits the use of state funds for embryonic stem cell research; restrictions only apply to state healthcare cash funds provided by tobacco settlement dollars NA Yes, prohibits the maintenance of a unfrozen fertilized pre-embryo past 14 days No Yes, prohibits research on a fetus/embryo born or extracted alive, only applies to in vitro fertilized embryos postimplantation NA NA NA aborted fetal organs or tissue No

Nebraska

No

Yes, prohibits sale, distribution or donation of viable aborted child

Nevada

NA

NA

New Hampshire No

No

No

Yes

New Jersey

Yes

No

Yes

No Yes, prohibits abortion for the purpose of selling the fetus to researchers

New Mexico

No

No

No

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Yes, permits research on adult and No No embryonic stem cells from any source NA NA NA Yes, prohibits research on a No living/nonNo living embryo or fetus

NA

NA

NA

NA Yes, prohibits the sale of a fetus to be used for illegal purposes

No

Restricts Restricts research Consent Restrictions of Permits research on on fetus or embryo provision to purchase sale of research on aborted resulting from conduct research human tissue for fetus/embryo? fetus/embryo sources other than on fetus/embryo research ? abortion United States 8 Yes NA NA NA NA Yes, prohibits sale of fetus or fetal remains from an abortion Yes, prohibits sale of fetus or fetal remains NA Yes, consideration may not be given to mothers consenting to research or other transferring tissue except for expenses involved in actual retrieval, storage, etc.

Ohio

No

Oklahoma Oregon

No NA

Pennsylvania

No

Yes, prohibits research on a living/nonNo living embryo or fetus Yes, prohibits research on a No fetus/embryo NA NA Consideration may not be given to mothers Yes, prohibits consenting to research on a research; in cases live embryo or involving fetus abortion, consent must be provided after decision to abort

No

No NA

No

Rhode Island

No

No

Yes

South Carolina

NA

NA

NA

South Dakota

No

Yes, prohibits research on a living/nonNo living embryo or fetus Yes, consent required to conduct research on aborted fetus No

Yes, prohibits research on a fetus/embryo born or extracted alive, Yes, prohibits sale only applies to in of embryo vitro fertilized embryos postimplantation NA NA Yes, prohibits research on embryo outside of a woman's body; research on Yes, prohibits sale cells or tissues of embryo derived from an embryo outside a woman's body No Yes, prohibits sale of aborted fetus Prohibits sale of fetus/fetal tissue

Tennessee

No

No

Texas

No

No

No

Restricts Restricts research Consent Restrictions of Permits research on on fetus or embryo provision to purchase sale of research on aborted resulting from conduct research human tissue for fetus/embryo? fetus/embryo sources other than on fetus/embryo research ? abortion United States 8 Yes NA NA NA NA

Utah

No

No

No

Vermont

NA

NA

NA

Virginia

No

No

No

Washington West Virginia Wisconsin

NA NA NA

NA NA NA

NA NA NA

Wyoming

No

No

No

Yes, prohibits sale of fetus/fetal tissue; Yes, prohibits also prohibits sale research on a live of live unborn fetus, fertilized children, which is embryo postnot defined, but are implantation referred to in abortion statute NA NA Yes, prohibits shipping or May prohibit receiving of the research on a cloned product of human embryo or fetus cloning for commerce. NA NA NA NA NA NA Yes, prohibits sale, distribution or live donation of live or No viable aborted child, defined to include embryos, for experimentation

Works Cited "Embryonic and Fetal Research Laws." NCSL Home. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. "HowStuffWorks "How Stem Cells Work"" Howstuffworks "Science" Web. 08 Jan. 2011. "Independent Lens . MAPPING STEM CELL RESEARCH: Terra Incognita | PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. "Search Results - Page 1 - New Scientist." Science News and Science Jobs from New Scientist New Scientist. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. . "States Take Lead in Funding Stem-Cell Research : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. "Stem Cells: 10 Diseases They Mayor May NotCure - US News and World Report." Health News Articles - US News Health. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. "Stem Cell Research Laws." Kaiser State Health Facts. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. "Stem Cell Research." University of Michigan. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. Stem Cell Research. Web. 08 Jan. 2011. "The Stem Cell." NIH Stem Cell Information. Web. 08 Jan. 2011