Embryonic Stem Cell Research Alternative Intr

ALTERNATIVES TO EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH

Landza, Thomas, Thomson, Pederson and Gearhart (2005: 3-22) report that embryonic stem cells consist of stem cells obtained by fusing a patient's cell with an enucleated egg cell, thereby forming an embryo. This embryo is then allowed to grow for about five days until it is the size of about 150 cells. Cells are then extracted from the inner mass cells which destroys the embryo.

At this point the stem cells are cultured and will grow and divide indefinitely creating a stem cell line of offspring sharing its genetic characteristics. Embryonic cells are pluripotent which is to say that they are able to differentiate into many cell type; they have almost unlimited regenerative capacity and can potentially generate any body tissue (Landza, Thomas, Thomson, Pederson and Gearhart, 2005: 3).

There have been many claims about the almost miraculous sounding benefits that will occur as a result of embryonic stem cell research. For example, Weissman (2005: 1359-1366) suggests that the regenerate properties of these cells will eradicate all forms of cancer and leukemia. Further, The Stem Cell Research Foundation (2005: 1-2) promises that this research will revolutionize medicine with dramatic cures for cancer, Parkinson's, diabetes, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, macular degeneration and a host of other diseases. Moreover, the Stem Cell Foundation reports that embryonic stems cells will one day be used to repair ca

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fat, and other sources. George reports that these alternative therapies have already been shown to help people suffering from a wide variety of diseases and in many cases have produced actual cures. Lopez (2005: 1-3) points out that George and heartily endorses the continued exploration of alternatives to embryonic stem cell research. He is said to be especially interested in epigenetically reprogramming ordinary body cells to the pluripotent state. According to George (Lopez, 2005:1), this reprogramming would cause modifications that would produce the pluripotent state associated with embryonic stem cells but would not produce the embryonic state itself. This would allow scientists to obtain precisely the type of stem cells desired by advocates of embryonic stem-cell research; however, there would be no need to create or kill embryos. More details on alternatives to embryonic stem cell research are provided by a report prepared by The President's Council on Bioethics (May, 2005: 1-15) in which they discuss four approaches to deriving pluripotent stem cells that do not involve the use of embryos. These approaches involve: (1) extracting cells from embryos already dead; (2) extracting cells via non-harmful biopsy of living em

Category: Medical - E