1. Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
• Produce immunologically identical tissues for
treatment purposes
• The procedure can be used to clone humans
• Unlike reproductive cloning, therapeutic
cloning does not lead to the creation of a new
individual
2. Adult stem cells as an alternative that
doesn't involve embryonic destruction
• Embryonic stem cells are easier to isolate and
grow ex vivo
• Embryonic stem cells divide more rapidly
• Adult stem cells from the patient's own body
might not be effective in treatment of genetic
disorders.
• Genetic manipulation of cells is required to
generate iPS cells
3. Is destruction of embryo morally
equivalent to killing of a human life?
• Brings into tension two fundamental moral
principles that we highly value: the duty to
prevent or alleviate suffering, and the duty to
respect the value of human life.
• Moral status of human embryo
4. Religious Views on Stem Cell Research
• Islam: majority of Muslim thinkers through the ages
have accepted the morality of abortion through the
fourth month of pregnancy. Medical progress is a
strong value and stem cell research is acceptable due
to its therapeutic benefits
• Buddhism: prohibits harm to any sentient
beings, which presents possible restrictions on embryo
and animal research. Principle of non-harming can be
interpreted as prohibiting only the harm on sentient
beings that is those who are able to feel.
• Hindu: rejects both animal research and the
destruction of sentient embryos
5. Religious Views on Stem Cell Research
• Roman Catholic, Orthodox, conservative Protestant
Churches: every intervention not in favour of the embryo is
a violation of the right to life of a human embryo
• Less conservative Protestant Churches: prior to the
“primitive streak” stage bearing in mind the seriousness of
certain medical conditions that could possibly be treated
• Judaism: ultimate goal of human embryonic stem cell
research to be life saving. Human foetus less than 40 days
old does not have a full human status . After those first 40
days the embryo in the uterus is considered a part of the
woman until birth
6. Permitted for Therapeutic Cloning but
not for Reproductive Cloning
• United Kingdom
• China
• Japan
• South Korea
• Saudi Arabia
• Australia
• Belgium
• Sweden
7. Prohibited or Severely Restricted
• Germany
• Austria
• Italy
• Finland
• Greece
• Ireland
• Portugal
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
9. United States
• States with statutes specifically banning human
reproductive and therapeutic cloning
– Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Virginia,
• States with statutes specifically banning human
reproductive cloning
– Maryland, 2006 SB 144
• States banning the use of public monies for reproductive
and/or therapeutic cloning
– Arizona, Missouri,
• States with statutes specifically allowing therapeutic
cloning
– California, Missouri, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut
10. Malaysian Guideline
• Research on human adult stem cells is allowed.
• Research on stem cells derived from foetal tissues
from legally performed termination of pregnancy
is allowed.
• Research on non-human stem cells is allowed.
• Use of embryonic stem cells lines for research
purposes is allowed.
• Research on embryonic stem cells derived from
surplus embryos is allowed.
Editor's Notes
In Somatic cell nuclear transfer, ova are used for the benefit of the somatic cell donor and his/her treatmentSomatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a technique in which the nucleus of a somatic cell (that is any cell of the body apart from the sperm or egg), is transferred into an egg that has had its original nucleus removed. The egg now has the same DNA, or genetic material, as the donor somatic cell. Given the right signals, the egg can be coaxed into developing as if it had been fertilized. The egg would divide to form 2 cells, then 4 cells, then 8 cells and so on until the blastocyst of around 150 cells is formed. Embryonic stem cells can be derived from this blastocyst to create cell lines that are genetically identical to the donor somatic cell.Because of the potential to use such embryonic stem cells for therapy in the future, this technique is also sometimes called 'therapeutic cloning'. This is different from 'reproductive cloning‘If an egg generated by somatic cell nuclear transfer was implanted into the womb of an animal, an individual would be born that has identical genetic material as the donor somatic cell and might be referred to as a 'clone.' The procedure is referred to as 'reproductive cloning' and is fraught with profound technical and biological problems. Cloned offspring have been generated in a number of animal species, including sheep, mouse, pig, cow, rat, rabbit, dog, cat and horse, but the cloned animals have exhibited a range of serious developmental and physiological defects. As such, the overwhelming consensus of the world's scientific and medical communities is that at this time human reproductive cloning should be banned.One concern is that blastula creation in SCNT-based human stem cell research will lead to the reproductive cloning of humans. Both processes use the same first step: the creation of a nuclear transferred embryo, most likely via SCNT. Those who hold this concern often advocate for strong regulation of SCNT to preclude implantation of any derived products for the intention of human reproduction,[17] or its prohibition.[14]
Embryonic stem cells have never produced therapies (to date, adult stem cells have been used in treatment).[Divide more rapidly than adult stem cells, potentially making it easier to generate large numbers of cells for therapeutic means. In contrast, adult stem cell might not divide fast enough to offer immediate treatment.Adult stem cells from the patient's own body might not be effective in treatment of genetic disorders. Allogeneic embryonic stem cell transplantation (i.e. from a healthy donor) may be more practical in these cases than gene therapy of a patient's own cell.Embryonic cells are generally preferred because they have the potential to develop into any type of human cell whereas adult cells are generally tissue-specific.At this stage iPS cells cannot replace embryonic stem cells. Although the derivation of human iPS cells opens up exciting new areas of stem cell research, this technology is at a very early stage and many fundamental questions remain unanswered. While iPS cells and embryonic stem cells share many characteristics they are not identical. The similarities and differences are still being explored. Furthermore, genetic manipulation of cells is required to generate iPS cells. The long-term consequences of this manipulation, in particular when transplanted into a patient, are unknown. For these reasons, it is essential that both embryonic stem cells and iPS cells are studied
The harvesting of human embryonic stem cells violates this second duty as it results in the destructionof a possible human life. Both principles cannot simultaneously be respected in the case of embryonicstem cell research. The question then is which principle ought to be given precedence in this conflictsituation. Should we give more weight to the first, and permit destructive embryonic stem cellresearch because of its potential benefits? The aim of stem cell research (to cure diseases andrelieve suffering) is universally recognized as a good aim
Buddhism: More advanced medicalbiotechnology (where research is conducted on molecular level) is likely to be acceptable.Molecular human parts, such as cells, are hardly seen as human beingsscientific research suggests that human embryos less than 14 days old do not experience pain or "consciousness”The prophet had said that "verily the creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother's belly for 40 days in the form of seed, then he is a clot of blood for a like period, then a morsel of flesh for a like period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows the breath of life into him".This is taken by many scholars to indicate that the embryo's status as a "human being" only begins four months after conception. Young embryos, they argue, could thereby ethically be used for research and therapies for human benefits.Some scholars take the contrary view that an embryo is a potential human and should not be sacrificed even though a medical benefit can be achieved. Clearly, there are some challenging issues.
“primitive streak” stage -around 14th day after the fertilization
Originally created for reproduction purposesPermits Stem Cell Research using excess IVF
No federal law ever did ban stem cell research in the United States, but only placed restrictions on funding and use, under Congress's power to spend
There is no Stem Cell Act Guidelines serve as standards and framework for researchers
