4.1 Types of stem cells and their ethical status
3 min read•july 18, 2024
Stem cells, the building blocks of life, come in various types with unique properties and ethical considerations. From embryonic to adult and , each offers distinct potential for medical breakthroughs while raising important moral questions.
The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine promises groundbreaking treatments for previously incurable conditions. However, it also presents challenges like tumorigenicity, genetic instability, and complex ethical dilemmas that must be carefully navigated.
Types of Stem Cells
Types of stem cells
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- (ESCs)
- Derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, an early-stage embryo (3-5 days post-fertilization)
- Pluripotent, capable of differentiating into any cell type in the body (over 200 cell types)
- Ethical concerns: destruction of human embryos, potential for commodification of human life
- (ASCs)
- Found in various tissues throughout the body (bone marrow, fat, skin)
- Multipotent, capable of differentiating into a limited number of cell types within their tissue of origin
- Ethical considerations: less controversial than ESCs as they do not involve the destruction of embryos
- Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
- Created by reprogramming adult somatic cells to a pluripotent state using specific transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc)
- Possess similar properties to ESCs, including pluripotency
- Ethical advantages: avoid the destruction of embryos, can be derived from a patient's own cells (autologous) reducing the risk of immune rejection
Ethics of stem cell use
- Embryonic stem cells
- Arguments for:
- Potential for significant medical advances in regenerative medicine and disease modeling
- May lead to the development of life-saving treatments for currently incurable conditions (Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries)
- Arguments against:
- Destruction of human embryos is morally objectionable to some as it is seen as the taking of human life
- Concerns about the commodification and instrumentalization of human life
- Arguments for:
- Adult stem cells
- Arguments for:
- Less ethically controversial than ESCs as they do not involve the destruction of embryos
- Can be obtained from a patient's own tissues reducing the risk of immune rejection
- Arguments against:
- Limited differentiation potential compared to ESCs which may restrict their therapeutic applications
- Obtaining sufficient quantities of ASCs can be challenging
- Arguments for:
- Induced pluripotent stem cells
- Arguments for:
- Avoid the ethical issues associated with the destruction of human embryos
- Can be derived from a patient's own cells minimizing the risk of immune rejection
- Provide a potentially unlimited source of patient-specific pluripotent cells
- Arguments against:
- Reprogramming process may introduce genetic abnormalities raising safety concerns
- Long-term stability and differentiation potential of iPSCs are not yet fully understood
- Arguments for:
Stem cells in regenerative medicine
- Potential benefits
- Regeneration of damaged or diseased tissues (spinal cord injuries, neurodegenerative disorders, heart disease)
- Development of patient-specific cell therapies reducing the risk of immune rejection
- Improved understanding of disease mechanisms through the creation of disease-specific cell models
- Risks and challenges
- Tumorigenicity: pluripotent stem cells (ESCs and iPSCs) may form teratomas if not properly differentiated before transplantation
- Genetic instability: reprogramming process in iPSCs may introduce genetic abnormalities raising safety concerns
- Immunogenicity: allogeneic stem cell transplants may trigger an immune response requiring immunosuppression
- Ethical concerns: destruction of human embryos (ESCs) and the potential for commodification of human life
- Regulatory hurdles: ensuring the safety and efficacy of stem cell-based therapies requires rigorous testing and regulatory oversight
Key Terms to Review (20)
Adult Stem Cells: Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells found in various tissues of the body that have the ability to differentiate into specialized cell types and self-renew. These cells play a crucial role in tissue repair and regeneration, distinguishing themselves from embryonic stem cells by their limited differentiation potential and specific ethical considerations surrounding their use.
Beneficence: Beneficence is the ethical principle that emphasizes the moral obligation to act for the benefit of others, promoting their well-being and preventing harm. This principle is central to many ethical discussions, particularly in healthcare and biotechnology, where the goal is to ensure that actions taken lead to positive outcomes for individuals and society as a whole.
Biotechnology equity: Biotechnology equity refers to the fair and just distribution of the benefits and risks associated with biotechnological advancements among different populations and communities. This concept emphasizes that all individuals, regardless of socio-economic status, race, or geographic location, should have equal access to the innovations and therapies developed through biotechnology. It highlights the importance of ethical considerations in ensuring that the fruits of scientific progress are shared equitably, particularly when it comes to sensitive areas like stem cell research.
California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative: The California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative, also known as Proposition 71, is a voter-approved measure from 2004 that established the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to fund stem cell research in the state. This initiative aimed to promote advancements in stem cell science and facilitate the development of new therapies for debilitating diseases, while also navigating the ethical complexities surrounding various types of stem cells, particularly embryonic stem cells, which have raised significant moral and ethical questions.
Embryonic stem cells: Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, an early-stage embryo. These cells have the unique ability to differentiate into any cell type in the body, making them invaluable for research and potential medical therapies. Their use raises significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding the moral status of embryos and the implications of their destruction for scientific progress.
Equitable Access: Equitable access refers to the fair distribution of resources, opportunities, and services, ensuring that all individuals have the means to benefit from advancements in healthcare, technology, and other essential areas. This concept is crucial in addressing disparities that can arise due to socioeconomic status, geographic location, or other barriers, particularly in health-related fields like biotechnology. Ensuring equitable access helps to promote social justice and health equity, which are vital for advancing society as a whole.
Induced pluripotent stem cells: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a type of stem cell that has been genetically reprogrammed from adult cells to an embryonic-like pluripotent state, allowing them to differentiate into any cell type in the body. This innovation bridges the gap between adult and embryonic stem cell research, offering potential solutions to ethical concerns surrounding embryonic stem cells and expanding the possibilities for regenerative medicine.
Informed Consent: Informed consent is the process by which individuals voluntarily agree to participate in research or medical procedures after being fully informed of the risks, benefits, and alternatives involved. This essential ethical principle ensures that participants have the autonomy to make decisions based on an understanding of what they are agreeing to, emphasizing respect for their rights and well-being.
Justice: Justice refers to the principle of fairness and moral rightness in the distribution of benefits and burdens among individuals or groups. It emphasizes equality, equity, and impartiality, playing a crucial role in ethical decision-making processes, especially in contexts where resources and opportunities are limited.
Leon Kass: Leon Kass is a prominent American physician and bioethicist known for his influential views on the ethical implications of biotechnology, particularly in the realm of stem cell research. His work emphasizes the moral and philosophical considerations surrounding the manipulation of human life, advocating for a careful examination of how scientific advancements intersect with human dignity and ethical responsibilities.
Moral status of the embryo: The moral status of the embryo refers to the ethical consideration given to an embryo in terms of its rights, value, and moral significance in bioethical discussions. This concept raises questions about when personhood begins and the implications for reproductive rights, stem cell research, and medical interventions involving embryos. Understanding the moral status of the embryo is essential when evaluating various types of stem cells and their ethical implications.
National Institutes of Health Guidelines: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines are a set of regulations established to oversee research involving human stem cells, ensuring ethical standards and responsible conduct in biotechnology. These guidelines play a crucial role in determining which types of stem cells can be used for research, balancing scientific advancement with ethical considerations to protect human dignity and promote public trust.
Peter Singer: Peter Singer is a prominent Australian moral philosopher known for his work in bioethics and utilitarianism, particularly concerning the ethical implications of biotechnology. His philosophical perspectives challenge traditional views and advocate for a more consequentialist approach to ethical decision-making, influencing debates surrounding issues such as animal rights, genetic engineering, and global poverty.
Potential for exploitation: The potential for exploitation refers to the risks and ethical concerns associated with the use of certain biological resources or populations, particularly in the context of research and medical applications. This concept is especially relevant when discussing vulnerable groups, where the benefits of biotechnological advancements may be unequally distributed, leading to ethical dilemmas regarding consent, equity, and access to healthcare.
Public Perception: Public perception refers to the collective opinion or attitude that individuals hold regarding a particular issue, idea, or entity, which can be shaped by various factors such as media coverage, personal experiences, and cultural beliefs. It plays a critical role in shaping the acceptance or rejection of emerging technologies and practices, influencing policy decisions and ethical considerations in areas like food production, biotechnology, and medical research.
Reproductive Cloning: Reproductive cloning is a biotechnological process that creates a genetically identical organism by transferring the nucleus of a somatic cell into an egg cell that has had its nucleus removed. This technique allows for the production of a new individual that is a clone of the donor organism, raising important ethical questions regarding its implications for stem cell research and the status of embryos.
Research Funding Disparities: Research funding disparities refer to the unequal distribution of financial resources allocated for scientific studies, which can result in significant differences in research outcomes and opportunities across various fields, including biotechnology. These disparities often arise from factors such as institutional prestige, geographic location, and specific areas of research focus, which can influence the ethical considerations surrounding the types of stem cells being researched and their associated societal impacts.
Sanctity of life: The sanctity of life is the principle that human life is inherently valuable and should be protected and respected, often based on ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. This concept underscores the belief that all human beings have a right to live, making it a critical factor in discussions about medical ethics, including issues like stem cell research and biotechnology.
Slippery slope argument: A slippery slope argument is a logical fallacy that suggests taking a minor action will lead to significant and often negative consequences without providing evidence for that progression. This type of reasoning can be seen in ethical discussions, where it is used to caution against initial steps that may lead to morally questionable outcomes. The concern often revolves around how small decisions in biotechnology can escalate into larger ethical dilemmas, impacting society at various levels.
Therapeutic Cloning: Therapeutic cloning is a process that involves creating an embryo through somatic cell nuclear transfer for the purpose of harvesting stem cells that can be used for medical treatments. This method aims to generate tissues or organs that are genetically identical to the patient, minimizing the risk of rejection. The connection to human genetic engineering lies in its potential to provide therapy for diseases by repairing or replacing damaged cells, while its ethical implications arise from the debate on the moral status of embryos and the differences between enhancement and therapy.