Evaluating Stem Cell Research Ethics

Before 1958, scientists and physicians did not have an easy way of treating patients with missing or damaged tissue in various parts of their bodies. They were also in dire need of a new way to experiment with new treatments. They finally got it when, in 1958, French oncologist Georges Mathe “performed the first stem cell transplantation of bone marrow grafts to save six nuclear researchers who were accidentally exposed to radiation” (Eurofins, 2021). Stem cell therapy would grow into a field of both optimism and controversy throughout history.

Stem cells are cells that have not yet differentiated. In other words, these stem cells could have been kidney cells, lung cells, or even blood cells. Two types of stem cells are adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells are developed enough that they are considered specialized. This means that they can only differentiate into certain types of cells. Embryonic stem cells, on the other hand, are not yet developed, so they can differentiate into any different type of cell needed for the body. They are taken from the embryos of organisms. Stem cells are usually found in the bone marrow. Sometimes, stem cells can be directly extracted from the bone marrow so that the cells can divide into healthy blood cells. Other times, stem cells are harvested at a later stage. In the bone marrow, stem cells divide to form blood cells which are then released into the bloodstream. However, a small number of immature stem cells are also released into the bloodstream. Researchers draw a sample of blood, isolate the stem cells, and release the blood alone back into the body.

Stem cell therapy has made researchers optimistic because it provides a new option to cure strokes and serious burns, among other health issues. Furthermore, using raw stem cells, scientists can test the effects of a drug before shuttling the drug to its human-testing stages. However, not everybody is happy with stem cell research. Before stem cell donor evaluations were implemented, many people were worried about the long-term effects of donating stem cells and were therefore hesitant to do so. These guidelines outlined if one was fit to donate, and practices were improved such that donating adult stem cells would not have any long-term effects.

Another larger problem involves embryonic stem cell research. Although the removal of embryonic stem cells from an embryo can help the recipient through the addition of newly differentiated cells, this removal destroys the embryo. According to the National Library of Medicine, this has been an issue with many “pro-lifers” who think that “human life begins at conception” (Lo et al., 2009), and the destruction of an embryo would be the destruction of life, which effectively equates to murder. Critics of stem cell research argue that an embryo has the same moral rights and status as a normal human being. Proponents of stem cell research argue that immature stem cells will be destroyed sooner or later because they will be of no use soon, so scientists may as well get some research finished.

In response to the criticism of conventional stem cell theory, scientists from UCLA developed Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cells in 2007. These are formerly skin or blood cells that had been reprogrammed to an embryonic stage, which reduced the ethical concerns, which is why iPS cells started to become more frequently used to this day. There are still some lingering concerns from skeptics of iPSC treatment, such as whether it is ethical to use the technique for cloning or making germ cells, so “informed consent should be obtained from patients in stem cell therapy” (Zheng, 2015). Moreover, according to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, if exposed to the right conditions, iPS cells could develop into embryos, and their use could result in the embryos’ deaths, leading to much anger from critics.

Scientists are working hard to address the diversity of diseases and health issues arising, and they are making long strides with innovations such as stem cell therapy. Once controversies are further addressed, and the practice becomes more widespread, stem celltherapy can be accessible to all that require it.

References

Lo, B., & Parham, L. (2009, May). Ethical issues in Stem Cell Research. Endocrine reviews. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726839/#:~:text=However%2C%20human%20embryonic%20stem%20cell,linked%20to%20debates%20over%20abortion.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (IPS). UCLA Eli & Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Research. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://stemcell.ucla.edu/induced-pluripotent-stem-cells

Zheng, Y. L. (2015). Some Ethical Concerns About Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Science and Engineering Ethics, 22(5), 1277–1284. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-015-9693-6Dr, October 28th, reas E. 24 J. 2021, & 2021. (2021, June 24). 

The Beginnings Of Stem Cell Therapy. The DNA Universe BLOG. https://the-dna-universe.com/2021/06/24/the-beginnings-of-stem-cell-therapy/#:~:

text=Stem%20cell%20therapy%20%E2%80%93%20The%20beginning&text=In%201958%20the%20French%20oncologist

University of Nebraska Medical center. (2018). Pros and Cons | Stem Cells | University of Nebraska Medical Center. Unmc.edu.

https://www.unmc.edu/stemcells/educational-resources/prosandcons.html