(http://en.wikepedia.org/wiki/stem_cell)
The National Institutes of Health [NIH] has accepted input on its proposed guidelines for embryonic stem cell research until May 26th. You can express your opinion on this proposal by clicking here .
This proposal includes federally funded research utilizing human embryos that have been produced in vitro for artificial insemination. Though, the assumption is that this type of research is performed on frozen embryos that are already stored in fertility clinics, the new proposal also calls for allowing donors the option of choosing up-front whether they want to store these 'spare' embryos or donate them for research. The proposal even allows for harvesting and cloning human embryos for the sole purpose of extracting needed material, destroying the unutilized remaining embryonic parts. In these cases, human lives are taken in order to cure or improve the life of other human lives.
Stem cell research does have a very humane side to it. The goal is to better understand the generation and development of human stem cells, which form all tissues in the body, in order to repair tissue on people suffering from a disease or medical condition. There are different types of stem cells. Some cells are unipotent, meaning they create a single type of tissue, while some are multipotent because they can generate multiple types of tissue in the body. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they can form or repair any body part, except the placenta. Only embryonic stem cells seem to be pluripotent, as far as we know. However, the multipotent stem cells are useful in that they may generate or repair several body parts. These adult stem cells can be gathered from umbilical cords, blood, fat, bone marrow, muscle, and nerves, without doing any harm to the donor. The Catholic Church does not oppose this type of stem cell research, since no human life is taken.
(http://www.youtube.com)
Does this mean that the Catholic Church will never approve of stem cell technology that might help improve people's lives? The answer is that the Church cannot approve of any type of human life destruction. However, an article in Wikipedia states that 'recently, it has been shown in principle that adult stem cell lines can be manipulated to generate embryonic-like stem cell lines using a single-cell biopsy similar to that used in preimplantation genetic diagnosis that may allow stem cell creation without embryonic destruction.' In other words, the fact that present technology does not have the means to use pluripotent stem cell technology without destroying embryos does not mean that something similar will not be discovered in the near future.
Another important fact to keep in mind is that so far, no therapeutic treatment has been discovered from the use of embryonic stem cells, but many cures and repairs have been documented on the use of adult stem cells, without harming donors, for conditions such as leukemia, spinal cord injuries, some types of cancer, and muscle damage, among others. Another Wikipedia article on stem cell research mentions that 'to date, no approved medical treatments have been derived from embryonic stem cell research. Adult stem cells and cord blood stems cells have thus far been the only stem cells used to successfully treat any diseases. Diseases treated by these non-embryonic stem cells include a number of blood and immune-system related genetic diseases.' Thus, for now, holding back on the research of embryonic stem cells should not necessarily affect therapeutic treatment of sick or injured people, though it will allow us some time to deal with the bioethical issues involved.
The field of bioethics attempts to ask and answer questions dealing with medical and biological issues with ethical implications, especially in terms of human life. This philosophical field of knowledge is extremely important to Catholics, as it pertains to the sanctity of life issues that we feel so strongly about. On Article 6 on Moral Conscience #1789 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it states that some rules apply to all cases, such as 'one may never do evil so that good may result from it.' This is one of those handy rules that help with difficult life dilemmas. It is another version of the 'ends do not justify the means' rule.
In a way, this bioethics issue reminds me of moral dualism. As long as the embryo is considered simply as 'tissue,' and not as a spiritual being, it seems fine to utilize and destroy it as needed. It is the old 'spirit=good, body=bad' heresy, which Catholics have been fighting for centuries. The human person is both body and spirit, from its very beginning, and entitled to its dignity and full protection. No human life should be used or destroyed for another's benefit.
For more information:
http://www.usccb.org/stemcellcampaign/
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics3.asp
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/ethics.asp
http://www.isscr.org/public/ethics.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryonic_stem_cell_research
Comments
I'm a scientist and want to clarify something in your article. You called a new stem cell method "adult stem cells" when in fact it is entirely embryonic. You confused this entirely embryonic stem cell method that doesn't destroy embryos (embryo biopsy) with manipulation of adult cells to make embryo-like cells (induced pluripotency). Both technologies should be entirely okay with Catholics who are okay with IVF, but the embryonic biopsy method undercuts attempts to demonise embryonic stem cells
Thanks for your post, Jeremy. Actually, I only reported on the manipulation to produce embryonic-like stem cells, not on the embryo biopsy, because honestly, I did not find anything that mentioned that technology. Are you involved in this type of science? Perhaps you could suggest some reference material for us to learn about this embryonic biopsy that does not harm embryos. How does it work?
As an advocate for life, I understand this more than the average person and also wish to make some clarifications. You say "human lives are taken in order to cure or improve the life of other human lives." Human lives are not taken...human "cells" that National Geographic shows that fit in the eye of a needle are used. You say "no therapeutic treatment has been discovered from the use of embryonic stem cells, but many cures and repairs have been documented on the use of adult stem cells, wit
It would be a good idea to read something about the topic before you start to write. The best would be an original source on NIH website. For example: section IV b: NIH funding for research using human embryonic stem cells derived from other sources, including somatic cell nuclear transfer, parthenogenesis, and/or IVF embryos created for research purposes, is not allowed under these Guidelines.
Another thing: adult stem cells were never shown to differentiate to neurons, they only produce some supportive factors/chemicals which help some patients. Only embryonic stem cells can do neurons, because they are pluripotent but adult are multipotent
I am glad scientists are posting here because frankly, most of what I was able to find was very confusing and contradictory. I sincerely welcome clarification.
Advocate 4 Life-
I understand that only cells are used, but what happens to the "rest," now without its cells, is what worries me. Human life cannot continue without the material inside its cells- however small.
Martina-
1.Have embryonic [pluripotent] cells been used to produce neurons & successful therapies yet?
2.If embryonic
Martina-
2. If embryonic stem cells from all of these sources aren't allowed under proposed guidelines, where are the embryonic cells obtained from? Won't these embryos need to be destroyed?
Jeremy-
I'm curious about the embryo biopsy method. I have not found info on this technology. Does it not destroy the embryos after taking cells from it?
Maria, please, read the NIH guidelines!
If you do that, you will find that embryos are destroyed but only those, which will not be used, i.e. they will be destroyed anyway (mixed with bleach and discarded). That is reality of in vitro fertilization, wake up. ES cells were successfully used for treatment in animal models. Not in patients for a simple reason. The first clinical trial was allowed by FDA this year in January. Why such a delay? You would be surprised, but there are people who do eve
Jeremy mentioned method, where cells are taken from embryo in time, where embryo is just several cells, but more importantly, those cells did not start differentiation. If done correctly, it does not hurt embryo at all. In fact, this method was originally used for screening embryos for defects and genetic diseases after in vitro fertilization. Only healthy embryos are implanted to uterus and make healthy babies-take it as a proof the method does not harm embryos. Do you like it? If yes, sorry. T
I did not mention there is a limit for comments...In the end of my comment I wrote that the technique is not allowed for federal funding in US for the same reason clinical trials with ES started so late....
IM IN 9TH GRADE AND WE ARE DOING A DEBATE OVER THIS TOPIC...AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IT RIGHT?
N/A: What specifically are you asking? What exactly are you debating? All stem-cell research or just embryonic? Are you asking whether it is ethical to deliberately kill someone in order to save someone else? Or are you asking whether it is moral to experiment with this type of science in general? You can send me an email to: OrlandoCatholic@gmail.com if you prefer.
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