Transcript Stem Cell Research

Is it ethical or unethical?
 http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/94017/detail/
Embryonic Stem cells
Adult Stem cells
 Derived from embryos the develop
 “Undifferentiated “cells in tissue or
from fertilized human embryos
organ that have the potential to
renew and become specialized
 Usually from blastocyte (about 150
cells) between four and five days old
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eYyT_R5Br0&feature=related
 President Bush:
” I strongly oppose human cloning, as most
Americans do…..Even the most noble ends
do not justify any means….I also believe
human life is a sacred gift from our
Creator. I worry about a culture that
devalues life, and believe as your President I
have an important obligation to foster and
encourage respect for life in America and
throughout the world. And while we're all
hopeful about the potential of this
research, no one can be certain that the
science will live up to the hope it has
generated.”
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases
/2001/08/20010809-2.html)
VIDEO:
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/07/18/snowmurder/

Pope Benedict XVI:
“The resistance the church shows toward
embryonic stem-cell research is because the
destruction of human embryos to harvest stem
cells is "not only devoid of the light of God but is
also devoid of humanity" and "does not truly
serve humanity," the pope said.
(http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns
/0605317.htm)
 David Pinto, Ph.D, University
 James Thomson, Ph.D,
University of Wisconsin Stem
Cell and Regenerative Center
of Rochester School of
Medicine and Dentistry

“As for my opinion, I guess my strongest feeling is
that I don’t like how political the science has
become. I personally feel that there are some
area’s of research that should be regulated (e.g.,
human cloning) but those kind of decisions should
be made by scientists or at least science ethicists –
who have studied the issue and know the facts not politicians going on gut feelings. On the other
hand, I think the restrictions have ironically
pushed scientists to do some cool and clever
experiments they might not have tried
otherwise. For instance, my understanding is that
we can now (or nearly) harvest stem cells from
adult tissue rather than from embryos. The
techniques were worked out specifically to find a
way to study stem cells that was palatable to
.
politicians ”
•
“It changes everything in that these are not
cells derived from embryos anymore.”
•
(Scientist who pioneered on stem cells and also
helped in the discovery of the adult stem cells
could act as embryonic stem cells)
 Michael J. Fox:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMliHkTDHaE
www.cagle.com/working/060727/asay.gif
http://www.duke.edu/web/pps114/project/10/Stem_Cell_Cartoon.jpg
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http://cagle.msnbc.com/news/ReaganandStemCells/images/keefe.gif
http://www.lifeissues.org/international/art/2005/embryonic-stem-cell.png
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http://www.stmatthewsnj.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/Picture%202.png /

Canada: While similar concerns were certainly in evidence within Canada, the level of adamant
opposition was not nearly as high. Fewer people made specific reference to their religious views when
discussing the issue, people were taking a more pragmatic view of ethics of this kind of research or
.
not

China: “China is gaining popularity among a new breed of travelers: patients with incurable
conditions who are visiting the country to receive experimental stem-cell treatments not offered in
the United States. “(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88123868)

Australia: “It is illegal in Australia to conduct any type of research on embryos that are conceived naturally. ES cells
are taken from embryos that come from eggs fertilised in an IVF (in vitro fertilisation) clinic. Only embryos not
required for implantation are used. They are donated for research purposes only with informed consent from the
donors. They are not derived from eggs fertilised within a woman’s body, and embryos are not created specifically for
research purposes” (http://www.biotechnologyonline.gov.au/human/scembyonic.cfm)
 What is human? What is alive? – Sammy story
 The word cloning. Does it have a negative
connotation? (Movie: The Island)
 Separation of Church and State