Stem Cells

Learning Outcomes
Explain what is meant by the terms:
stem cell pleuripotency totipotency

Discuss the way society uses scientific knowledge to make decisions about the use of stem cells in medical therapies.

What Are Stem Cells?

The Master cells of the body Undifferentiated (not specialised) cells The precursors of all the specialised cells in an organism

Where do Stem Cells come from?

After fertilisation a ZYGOTE is formed A series of rapid cell divisions (cleavage) follows Smaller cells are produced after each division

Cells in the Early Embryo

After a zygote has undergone 3 cycles it has 8 identical cells. Any of these cells can develop into a complete human (e.g. identical twins) These cells are called TOTIPOTENT

An 8 Cell Human Embryo

(Day 3)

5 Days after Conception

BLASTOCYST Outer layer forms the placenta Inner cell mass goes on to form the tissues of developing embryo. Cells referred to as PLURIPOTENT EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

Differentiated Cells
As embryo develops cells become specific types of cell (DIFFERENTIATED) Some cells even in adults can turn into a limited number of cells e.g. neural stem cells & white blood stem cells. These cells are called MULTIPOTENT

Medical Uses of Stem Cells

Adult stem cells have been used for over 30 years to treat. Leukaemia & Lymphoma

Potential use of Stem Cells

Parkinsons Disease Brain Damage Cancer Spinal cord injury Muscle damage Heart damage Arthritis Osteoporosis

Low blood supply Baldness Missing teeth Deafness Blindness and Vision Impairment ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

A Universal Human Donor Cell

Where to get Embryonic Stem Cells

Pluripotent cells isolated from spare embryos from IVF treatment Embryos allowed to grow to form blastocysts Stem cells isolated, then cultured to hopefully develop into tissues Rest of embryo discarded

Other Sources of Stem Cells

Adult Stem Cells
Somatic Stem Cells (multipotent) Induced pluripotent stem cells

Fused Stem Cells

Adult cell nucleus put into enucleated egg cell

Hybrid Embryos
Enucleated animal egg cell (e.g. bovine) with human body nucleus inserted

Ethical Concerns

Ethical Concerns
Most people agree that there are no ethical objections to using adult multipotent stem cells. Different people see the status of the human embryo differently

Ethical Frameworks
Rights & Duties
Human rights Right to life Religious teaching

Maximising the amount of good in the world

More treatments = Healthier People

Making decisions for yourself

Im ill, I want the treatment Its my embryo

Leading a virtuous life

Justice: If its legal then its OK Wisdom: Scientific advances are important Moderation: multipotent cells OK, pluripotent cells not OK

Religious Concerns
Religious concerns are rooted in views about life. What is life?
the accidental result of the interaction of chemical substances? the gift of a Creator God? Your personal answer to this question may affect how you feel about stem-cell research. But try to put yourself in other peoples shoes

Lifean accident?
Some secular philosophers would argue that human life is precious because it is rare (in galactic terms). Therefore to destroy life is morally wrong. Others would argue that there is no difficulty in using the cells of a zygote or blastocyst as many die naturally in any case. Difficult choices: is it morally defensible to use one (potential) life to help another?

If Life is an accident, you tell me

If life is an accident, does it matter what happens to a few cells? Is there any difference between destroying a potential human or, say, eating meat? Is there a reason for considering human life to be more precious than any other life? Is it morally right to use one life to save another? Is a potential human less valuable than a developed human?

Lifea gift? Consider the Bible

You (God) created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb (Psalm 139) The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7)

Lifea gift? Consider the Quran (Surah 23:12-14)

Verily, We created man from a product of wet earth; (raw materials of life) then placed him as a drop of seed (sperm/egg?) in a safe lodging (womb?) then We fashioned the drop into a clinging thing (zygote?) then We fashioned the clinging thing into a little lump (blastocyst?) then we fashioned bones for the little lump (foetus?) then we clothed the bones with flesh (developed foetus?) and then produced it as another creation. (baby)

Lifea gift?
Some religious philosophers (theologians) argue that a gift from God comes with certain conditions like a manufacturers instructions. (e.g. Warranty is void if cover is removed) Those conditions may include: - The Lord gives and the Lord takes away - Love your neighbour as you love yourself - You shall not murder

Lifea gift?
Some theologians draw a distinction between human and animal life. Sofor themit may be acceptable to use animal stem cells, but not human ones. Such theologians would also draw the line at combining human and animal cells for medical treatment.

Lifea gift?
Other theologians argue that we must balance scripture with reason
e.g. God has given us the ability to reason out the mechanics of life (biology). Knowing that many eggs, zygotes and blastocysts do not survive naturally, may be an indication that God is unconcerned about stem cell research. e.g. God brings healing through the skills of scientists and doctors (to whom he has given the gifts of reason).

Let there be life!

We know that the human body is made up of:
65% Oxygen 18% Carbon 10% Hydrogen 3% Nitrogen 1.5% Calcium 1% Phosphorous 0.2% Potassium 0.3% Sodium Chloride 1% Trace Elements
Trace elements: Magnesium, Iron, Fluorine, Zinc, Silicon, Zirconium, Rubidium, Strontium, Bromine, Lead, Niobium, Copper, Aluminium, Cadmium, Boron, Barium, Arsenic, Vanadium, Tin, Mercury, Selenium, Manganese, Iodine, Gold, Nickel, Molybdenum, Titanium, Tellurium, Antimony, Lithium, Chromium, Cesium, Cobalt, Silver, Uranium, Beryllium, Radium.

Challengefrom Religion
65% Oxygen 18% Carbon 10% Hydrogen 3% Nitrogen 1.5% Calcium 1% Phosphorous 0.2% Potassium 0.3% Sodium Chloride 1% Trace Elements
Trace elements:
Magnesium, Iron, Fluorine, Zinc, Silicon, Zirconium, Rubidium, Strontium, Bromine, Lead, Niobium, Copper, Aluminium, Cadmium, Boron, Barium, Arsenic, Vanadium, Tin, Mercury, Selenium, Manganese, Iodine, Gold, Nickel, Molybdenum, Titanium, Tellurium, Antimony, Lithium, Chromium, Cesium, Cobalt, Silver, Uranium, Beryllium, Radium.

GO onMAKE A HUMAN BEING!