Embryonic Stem CellsEmbryonic Stem Cells

An introduction to the An introduction to the science, ethics and legislationscience, ethics and legislation

What is a stem cell?What is a stem cell?

Stem cells can Stem cells can become other become other types of cellstypes of cells

Stem cells can also Stem cells can also divide indefinitely divide indefinitely stem cell line stem cell line

Pluripotent vs Pluripotent vs multipotent stem multipotent stem cellscells

Reproduced by Permission of Professor Rathjen of the University of Adelaide

Embryonic Embryonic vsvs adult stem adult stem cellscells

ES cells are pluripotentES cells are pluripotent AS cells found in small amounts throughout AS cells found in small amounts throughout

bodybody Most AS cells appear to be multipotentMost AS cells appear to be multipotent

ES cells come from ICM of blastocyst

Reproduced by permission of the NIH

Why all the fuss?Why all the fuss?

Stem cells may be able Stem cells may be able to replace damaged to replace damaged cells in the bodycells in the body

Today: lymphoma, Today: lymphoma, leukemialeukemia

Future? Parkinson’s, Future? Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes...Alzheimer’s, diabetes...

Promising animal Promising animal studiesstudies

Reproduced by permission of The Providence Journal

Courtesy of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

Sources of ES cellsSources of ES cells

ES cell linesES cell lines Excess embryos from IVF clinicsExcess embryos from IVF clinics Embryos created for research by IVFEmbryos created for research by IVF Therapeutic cloningTherapeutic cloning

Reproduced by permission of the NIH

CloningCloning

Purpose of therapeutic cloning is to harvest ES Purpose of therapeutic cloning is to harvest ES cells for treatment cells for treatment blastocyst destroyed blastocyst destroyed

Purpose of reproductive cloning is to make new Purpose of reproductive cloning is to make new person person blastocyst implanted in uterus blastocyst implanted in uterus

Reproduced by permission of the NIH

Ethical debateEthical debate

Harvesting ES Harvesting ES cells destroys the cells destroys the blastocystblastocyst

““This is murder”This is murder”

Reproduced by permission of Dave Catrow and Copley News Service

Ethical debate, cont’dEthical debate, cont’d

ES cell research ES cell research requires human requires human cellscells

Could create a Could create a commercial commercial market for human market for human cellscells

““This devalues This devalues life”life”

Courtesy of Kevin Siers, The Charlotte Observer © 2001

Ethical debate, cont’dEthical debate, cont’d

““If excess IVF If excess IVF embryos are embryos are being discarded being discarded anyway, they anyway, they should be put to should be put to good use”good use”

Reprinted by permission of Chip Bok and Creators Syndicate, Inc.

Ethical debate, cont’dEthical debate, cont’d

““Therapeutic Therapeutic cloning is a cloning is a slippery slope - it slippery slope - it will lead to will lead to reproductive reproductive cloning”cloning”

Reproduced by permission of Gary Markstein and Copley News Service

Governing ES cell researchGoverning ES cell research

Country Therapeutic

cloning

Creation of embryos for

research

Use of excess embryos from

IVF clinics

Use of existing ES cell lines

UK

US ? Canada

Germany