human engineering
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Human Engineering. Cloning, Stem-Cell Research, and In Vitro Fertilization. Genetic Engineering. Manipulation of genetic material in an attempt to modify the structure of an organism or aid in the transmission of genetic information. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Human EngineeringHuman Engineering
Cloning, Stem-Cell Research, and In Vitro Fertilization
Genetic Engineering Manipulation of genetic material
in an attempt to modify the structure of an organism or aid in the transmission of genetic information
The substance of which genes are a part is DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), a long chainlike molecule.
DNA is the chemical record in which hereditary information is encoded
Human genes become defective by mutation and by chromosome aberration
The term eugenics means “sell born through the judicious matching of superior genes”• Negative (altering genetic
endowment by removing or correcting harmful genes)
• Positive (creating new beings).
Genetic Engineering
The motivation behind most human genetic engineering research certainly is commendable – not mad scientists
Three Types of Genetic Research1.Making minor changes in existing
structure – one of two ways:a.By splicing in new genetic
materialb.By altering the material already
presentGoal: improving an organism, or prevention or cure of disease
Few oppose such genetic engineering
Three Types of Genetic Research2.Creating new life forms
a.Mixing genes to from any two organism to produce an entirely new creature
b.The result is a hybrid plasmid bearing some characteristics of both original organismsRecent benefits: human insulin,
superwheat, organisms that eat oil
Production of disease-causing bacterium
Development of creatures that can reproduce
Disruption of the ecology New diseases in humans
and plants
Dangers Do Exist
Three Types of Genetic Research
3.Procreationa.This field embraces artificial
reproductionb.This includes such practices as:
a.Artificial insemination, (AIH, AID)b.Artificial sexual selectionc.Surrogate parentingd.In vitro fertilizatione.Embryo transfer
The Bible and Genetic Engineering
Bible is a of complete and perfect source of moral and spiritual information (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pt. 1:3)
Difficult to discover how Bible is to be applied in complex problems of modern society
Must search for the principles that are applicable
Biblical Ethics and Reproduction Technology
Reproductive technologies - techniques that deal with male and female infertility through artificial reproduction
Two distinctive areas in which biblical ethics are relevant to human reproduction technologies: before conception and at conception
Human Reproduction Technologies Before Conception
Genetic counseling is a medical speciality that uses the latest
information on birth defects and inherited diseases to help people as
they strive to plan their families, protect their health, and protect the
health of their children.
♦ Counselors have training in genetics♦ Their goal is to translate up-to-date
genetic knowledge into practical, useful information
♦ To date, scientists have isolated over 3,000 genetic defects among humans
♦ Awareness of these defects may aid those at risk in their decision making
Those at risk: People who have a family
history of inherited disease(s) Women who have experienced
two or more miscarriages Workers whose jobs expose
them to a potentially harmful environment
Those married to first cousins or other blood relatives
Etc.
Two choices:• Terminate a pregnancy if the fetus
is found to be defective – this is both unethical and unscriptural
• To have or nor have children – either choice is ethical and scriptural Birth control is permissible
scripturally – and wise, if there is evidence that a child might be diseased or disabled
Human Reproduction Technologies At Conception
Reproductive technologies at conception usually include: Cloning Artificial insemination In vitro fertilization.
• 1952 – Briggs and King cloned tadpoles
• 1996 – The first mammal cloned from adult cells was Dolly, the sheep
History of Cloning
July 1998 cloned calves
1998 Cloned mouse
History of Cloning
December 2001
Five cloned female piglets, named Noel, Angel, Star, Joy and
Mary
December 2001
The world's first cloned kitten, named Cece
History of Cloning
2004 Bull serial-
cloned
2003 Cloned mule
History of Cloning
Reproductive Cloning The word “clone” derives from the
Greek term klon, meaning a “sprout” or “twig.”
Cloning is an asexual process of reproduction that results in an exact genetic duplicate of the original
Thus, it refers to a method of reproduction apart from the parental, sexual-mating process that is characteristic of most organisms.
Reproductive Cloning Suggested benefits:
Children for unmarried Parents select characteristics Statistical studies Harvest “spare parts” Duplicate likeness of self
!
“Producing people in ‘herds’ in order to harvest spare parts, for use in
laboratory statistical studies like so many guinea pigs, or merely to satisfy personal egos in a vain attempt to guarantee physical
immortality is abhorrent”
(Bert Thompson, Ft. Wroth Lectures, 2000)
Cloning Humans Is Morally Wrong!
• Cloning opposes God’s design for bringing children into the world in a family unit [includes both a husband and wife in the procreation act]
• Marriage is to proceed the bearing of children (1 Tim. 5:14; Gen. 4:1)
• Children are to be reared within the circle of the family unit (Gen. 1:28; 2:24; cf. Eph. 6:1-4)
Cloning Humans Is Morally Wrong!
Dolly’s experimenters used 277 cloned embryos to produce one sheep, meaning 276 failed
In attempt to clone one human, hundreds of embryos will be produced and die in the process – embryos are living human beings (Gen. 9:6; Rom. 13:9)
Cloning Humans Is Morally Wrong!
Therapeutic Cloning• “Therapeutic” Cloning creates an
embryo for destruction• Therapeutic cloning involves cloning
human embryo cells to get stem cells from them (killing the embryo)
• Stem cell - a cell that has the ability to continuously divide and differentiate (develop) into various other kinds of cells/tissues
Kinds of Stem CellsStem cell
type Description Examples
TotipotentEach cell can develop into a new individual
Cells from early (1-3 days) embryos
Pluripotent Cells can form any (over 200) cell types
Some cells of blastocyst (5 to 14 days)
Multipotent
Cells differentiated, but can form a number of other tissues
Fetal tissue, cord blood, and adult stem cells
Stages of Embryogenesis
Day 1Fertilized egg
Day 22-cell embryo Day 3-4
Multi-cell embryo
Day 5-6BlastocystDay 11-14
Tissue Differentiation
Derivation and Use of Embryonic Stem Cell Lines
Isolate inner cell mass(destroys embryo)
Heart muscleKidney
Liver
“Special sauce”(largely unknown)
Day 5-6Blastocyst
Inner cells(forms fetus)
Outer cells(forms placenta)
Heartrepaired
Culture cells
Possible Uses of Stem Cell Technology
• Replaceable tissues/organs• Repair of defective cell types• Delivery of genetic therapies• Delivery chemotherapeutic agents
Adult stem cells (obtained from adult tissues, cord blood, etc.) do not pose any ethical controversies, since they do not destroy complete human beings
However, embryonic stem cells are isolated by destroying human embryos
Embryonic Stem Cell Engineering Is Morally Wrong
Adult Stem Cells
An alternative source (does not involve the destruction of human embryos)
• Can come from a donor or individual needing treatment
• Limited differentiation?
• Many clinical advantages over ESCs–No tissue rejection–Come from many places in the
body (Placenta, cord blood, bone marrow, kidneys, hair follicles)
Adult Stem Cells
Currently used to treat over 70 diseases
Leukemia, breast cancer, liver disease, cornea restoration, brain tumors, arthritis, and heart disease
Adult Stem Cells
C.J. Chiu, professor of cardiothoracic surgery injected adult stem cells from bone marrow into the hearts of rats. These cells differentiated into new heart muscle that made the right connections to nearby cells so they could all beat together.
Heart Disease
Adult Stem Cells
Adult stem cells can be transformed into skin cells which can be used for skin grafts.
Skin Disease
Adult Stem Cells
A team led by University of Florida permanently cured insulin-dependent diabetes in mice, with adult stem cells.
Diabetes
Adult Stem Cells
“Given the abundance of umbilical cord stem cells and the fact that umbilical cord cells are already being used for other disorders like childhood leukemia, many researchers expect that umbilical cord stem cells will start being used to treat stroke victims within the next few years.”About Genetics, “Umbilical Cord Stem Cells: Hope for Millions?” Feb 2001, (the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science)
Adult Stem Cells
‘Adult stem-cell research … has already shown itself to be extremely promising for treating numerous degenerative diseases such as heart disease, stroke, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.
David Prentice (Ph.D. Genetics), National Review, 2001
Adult Stem Cells
“Presently, no one has succeeded using ESCs for human therapeutic or reproductive cloning…”
Daniel Criswell (Ph.D. Molecular Biology), “Stem Cell research: Greasing the ‘Slippery Slope’ to Godlessness”, Impact, February 2005
Adult Stem Cells
• Celebrity Parkinson's disease victims such as Michael J. Fox and Michael Kinsley regularly tout ESC research as the best hope for a cure of their disease
• Both have remained strangely silent about the fact that researchers treated Parkinson's with the patient's own adult stem cells
Adult Stem Cells
Human Reproduction Technologies At Conception
Reproductive technologies at conception usually include: Cloning Artificial insemination In vitro fertilization.
Artificial insemination (AI) is a means of assisting reproduction
Process involves concentrated sperm being injected into the female reproductive system artificially
Most couples utilize artificial insemination because the husband either is infertile or subfertile
AIH designation given to artificial insemination performed using only the husband’s sperm
AID designation given to artificial insemination performed using only donor sperm
AIDH designation given to artificial insemination performed using sperm from both husband and donor
Sperm Sources
When the sperm of the husband is used (AIH) the conception of the couples own child results – no biblical principle is violated
The use of donor sperm, donor eggs, or surrogate mothers, stands in stark contradiction to God’s plan for the home
The family unit is the avenue by which children may be brought into the world legitimately (Gen. 4:1)
Parental responsibility begins at conception and continues to a point of independent maturity
It is morally wrong for any Christian to surrender his or her reproductive powers to another person, thus ignoring the divine responsibilities connected therewith
• Women could bear children for unmarried men
• Women could bear children for other couples (surrogate motherhood)
• Women could bear children for homosexual men
• Women who are lesbians could have children without a male partner
Bert Thompson: serious implications regarding the use of AI
Human Reproduction Technologies At Conception
Reproductive technologies at conception usually include: Cloning Artificial insemination In vitro fertilization.
In vitro (IVF) is the procedure whereby the woman’s egg [removed by laparoscopy] is fertilized with sperm in a laboratory Petri dish – the so-called “test tube” baby
Multiple eggs are extracted and fertilized, but only a few (appearing to be the healthiest) are selected for implantation – the remaining embryos are destroyed
Even though these embryos were fertilized outside the womb in a Petri dish, they are human
The wholesale production and subsequent slaughter of innocent human embryos in search for the “fittest” that is deemed good enough to be given a chance at survival, is immoral (Isa. 9:6)