Stem Cell Research Ethics in Medicine

Stem Cells Perhaps the most controversial aspect of current medical research relates to the use of stem cells These are cells from which stem all the “branches” of an organism. This means that they have the potential to become any tissue or structure of an organism.

Uses Researchers hope that stem cells can eventually be used to cure diseases such as diabetes or Parkinson’s disease by growing new cells to replace damaged ones. For example, stem cells might one day be used to grow new hearts, or they might be injected into damaged spinal cords so that some might one day walk again

Controversial Stem cell research is controversial because it opens up the debate about what constitutes a live human. Although stem cells can be found in umbilical cords and in the bone marrow of adults, fresh stem cells – those found in embryos – are more potent. Embryos for research can be cloned or there are extras created during IFV

IVF Because IVF can be difficult, it is normal to harvest and fertilize a number of eggs. Any embryos not required for implantation in the mother’s womb are normally destroyed or stored. Stem cell researchers have asked why they should not use stem cells from these “surplus” embryos in an attempt to develop cures for diseases

Ethics Is it ethical to harvest stem cells from these embryos for experimentation, a process that destroys the embryo? Does extracting stem cells from human embryos deny the embryo of human status, making the process unethical? Are the interests of the patients paramount because they are aware and are currently suffering?

Human Genome Project U.S. Government. project coordinated by the Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health, launched in 1986 by Charles DeLisi. Definition: GENOME – the whole hereditary information of an organism that is encoded in the DNA. Aims of the project: - to identify the approximate 30,000 genes in the human DNA. - determine the sequences of the 3 billion bases that make up human DNA. - store this information in databases. - develop tools for data analysis. - address the ethical, legal, and social issues that arise from genome research.

Benefits of Genome Mapping improvements in medicine. - microbial genome research for fuel and environmental cleanup. - DNA forensics. - improved agriculture and livestock. - better understanding of evolution and human migration. - more accurate risk assessment.

Ethical, legal and social implications of the Human Genome Project fairness in the use of genetic information. privacy and confidentiality. psychological impact and stigmatization. genetic testing. reproductive issues. education, standards, and quality control. commercialization. conceptual and philosophical implications.

Your Task In your group, you will be assigned one of the 8 ethical/social concerns Develop an argument both and for and against the project based on your “implication.” Be prepared to present this to the class