what are stem cells?

What Are Stem Cells?

• Stem cells are specialized cells that can produce several different kinds of cells

• Just like the stem of a plant will produce branches, leaves, and flowers, so stem cells can usually produce many different kinds of cells.

What Are Adult Stem Cells?

• Over one trillion cells in your body. Most will only divide a few times.

• Specialized stem cells continually produce new cells in certain tissues.

• There are skin, bone marrow, liver, muscle, etc. stem cells.

• These are adult stem cells.• No ethical difficulties

What Are Embryonic Stem Cells?• Blastocyst – Inner Cell Mass• The Inner Cell Mass eventually forms

all the cells of the body. These are embryonic stem cells (ESC).

• In order to retrieve them, the embryo is destroyed.

• Human ESC have been obtained from leftover embryos from fertility clinics – potential immune rejection

• Many researchers attempt to refer to these as simply “reproductive cells.

What Can Stem Cells Be Used For?• It is hoped that stem cells can be used to treat and

even cure diseases like diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's, and brain and spinal injuries.

• Embryonic stem cells offer the most hope since we know they can become any cell in the body.

The Promise of Adult Stem Cells• You can harvest adult stem cells from the individual to

be treated. Therefore, there are no rejection problems.• Adult stem cells can switch tissues.• Adult stem cells migrate throughout the body in the

blood.• The discovery of the “ultimate adult stem cell” was

announced 1/23/02

The Promise of Adult Stem Cells• Last year the National Institutes of Health spent $190

million on adult stem cell research and $25 million on embryonic stem cell research

• Clinical trials are already underway using bone marrow (adult) stem cells for treatment of heart attacks, liver disease, diabetes, bone and cartilage disease and brain disorders.

• Adult stem cells can even be injected intravenously in large quantities and they will migrate to where the injury is located.

The Problem with Embryonic Stem Cells• The embryo must be destroyed.• The proper chemical signals to direct stem cells to turn

into the cells you want are unknown.• Human ESC have been coaxed to differentiate but . . . • Immune rejection• In China a man with Parkinson's was treated with

human ES cells which turned into a tumor (teratoma) in his brain that killed him.

• The power of ESCs is also the source of their peril.

The Ethical Dilemma

• Embryonic Stem Cells (ESC) possess uncertain promise

• The use of ESC requires the death of the embryo.• All therapies with any kind of stem cell are

experimental and may not work.• Too much is being promised.• Coverage in the media has been biased and

inaccurate.

The Humanity of the Unborn• The Argument from Biology• It is a human life at conception• The fertilized egg contains 46 chromosomes in a new

and unique configuration.• Fertilization begins a directional process.• Separate from the mother, genetically distinct

The Humanity of the Unborn• Argument from Scripture• “Thou shalt not murder.” (Exo. 20:13)• Hebrew and Greek do not distinguish between pre-born

and born children• God’s intimate involvement in the development and life

of the pre-born infant (Ps. 139: 13-16)

Humanity of the Unborn

• Psalm 139:13-16

• Isaiah 49:1

• Psalm 51:5

• Jeremiah 1:5

• Luke 1:39-44

The Humanity of the UnbornFor You created my inmost being; You knit me together inmy mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfullyand wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I knowthat full well. My frame was not hidden from You when Iwas made in the secret place. When I was woventogether in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw myunformed body. All the days ordained for me were writtenin Your book before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16

The Humanity of the Unborn

The Lord called me from the womb;from the body of my mother He named me.

Isaiah 49:1

The Humanity of the Unborn

“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my motherconceived me.” Psalm 51:5

• Male seed combines with female seed to produce a child.

The Humanity of the Unborn

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, andbefore you were born I consecrated you; I haveappointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:4-5

The Humanity of the Unborn

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Luke 1:39-44

Saving Lives!• Clinical trials are already testing the treatment of

Parkinson’s using gene therapy and adult stem cells.• Alzheimer’s is likely not treatable by stem cells.• When we think about saving lives we must count the

cost.• Is relieving the symptoms of disease worth the cost of

the lives of the weakest and most defenseless members of society?

• “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'”

The Problem with Therapeutic Cloning• In order to avoid the immune rejection problem with ESC,

many want to clone the affected individual and use the ESC from their clone

• Treats the human embryo as a thing, a clump of cells before 14 days and beyond according to the new law in New Jersey.

• The basis of this ethic is strictly “the end justifies the means.”

• Even the term “therapeutic” is problematic. The subject is destroyed.

• Supposedly more ethical than reproductive cloning, the aim of which is at least to produce life.

The Future?• If we allow federal funding of ESC research, we have

stated that our government supports research at any cost to human life deemed less than worthy as long as we can think of a “good” reason.

• We would therefore endorse the view that “the end justifies the means.”

Politics ofStem Cells

Stem Cells: Potential & Politics

1. Potential of stem cells2. Politics of stem cells

Stem Cell Research Options

1. Prohibit ES cell research.2. Close off all federal funding.3. Funding of existing lines.4. Funding creation of ES cells.5. Full federal funding of research.

Stem Cell Research

• Adult stem cell research seems most promising (74 clinical successes).

• Embryonic stem cell research has been a failure (China – man with Parkinson’s developed grotesque tumor).