Hi it’s jill, please read:

What are the issues being discussed?▼

Research with embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is highly debated and many people
have strong opinions about it. Both sides of the debate are interested in protecting
human life, so why are views so different? It comes down to how the human blastula
is viewed.

ESCs are primarily made from cells found in a human blastula, one of the earliest
stages of human life. A fertilised egg grows into a blastula (made of ~100 cells),
which can only survive for a short time before it must be implanted in a womb.
Blastulas used in research are typically harvested, isolated and cultivated in a
laboratory or fertility clinic.

What is the rationale for different opinions?▼

Some people see destroying a blastula for its cells as destroying an unborn child.

Others feel that a blastula is not exactly a child just yet, because unless a blastula is
imbedded in the uterus wall, it will never have the chance to develop into a baby.

Every year fertility clinics create many blastula that are destroyed because they are
made in surplus. Supporters of ESC research generally feel that using cells from
these surplus blastula for research and developing medical treatments, which could
help improve and save people's lives, is much better than throwing them away.

Where does the middle ground lie?▼

This is where discussion is important. Debates and discussions about the moral and
ethical status of ESCs help establish the rules and regulations that govern scientific
research and the development of medical treatments using stem cells.

It is important to realise that, although people may have very strong opinions on what
is "best" for society, groups on both sides of this discussion are interested in helping
and protecting human lives. Understanding this can greatly help people to respect
each other’s differences in opinions and work to find the middle ground.
Embryonic stem cell research poses a moral dilemma. It forces us to choose
between two moral principles:

● The duty to prevent or alleviate suffering

● The duty to respect the value of human life

In the case of embryonic stem cell research, it is impossible to respect both moral
principles.To obtain embryonic stem cells, the early embryo has to be destroyed.
This means destroying a potential human life. But embryonic stem cell research
could lead to the discovery of new medical treatments that would alleviate the
suffering of many people. So which moral principle should have the upper hand in
this situation? The answer hinges on how we view the embryo. Does it have the
status of a person?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLPyrbCu0wc

Leanne & Hyvie

Stem Cell Research Goals & Importance

Potential good for humanity

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the
body during early life and growth. In addition, in many tissues they serve as a sort of internal
repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person
or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to
remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as
a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

Goals of Stem Cell Research

· Address fundamental questions regarding human development, genetics and the
fundamental causes of diseases.
· Create genetic tests and other useful clinical applications through the exploration
of normal vs. abnormal development
· Improve the quality of life through novel cell-based therapies
· Optimize the use of precious resources for an increased knowledge of basic
science and the future treatment of human diseases

Potential good for humanity:

The potential application of stem cells is to form cells and tissues for medical therapies.
Stem cells offer a viable source of replacement cells to treat diseases and can potentially
reduce the morbidity and mortality for those awaiting transplants. Some of the areas that
stem cells can benefit include:

● Parkinson's disease
● Type I diabetes
 ● Arthritis
● Burn victims
● Cardiovascular diseases

Maybelle’s

Adult Stem Cell Research

Adult stem cells

- also referred to as “non-embryonic” stem cells; are undifferentiated cells found throughout
the body that divide to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues.

- are found in small numbers in most adult tissues, such as ​liver cells, bone marrow, adipose
fat, peripheral blood and even teeth. Obtaining stem cells from these sources does not result
in certain harm to a human being.

Adult Stem Cells VS Embryonic Stem Cells

· ​ nlike embryonic stem cells, the use of adult stem cells in research and therapy is not
U
controversial because the production of adult stem cells ​does not require the
destruction of an embryo​.

· Adult stem cells are less powerful than embryonic, but they are easier to use, since all
humans have their own supply of these cells.

· ​ ​ompared with embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have a ​more limited ability to
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give rise to various cells of the body. ​Adult stem cells are said to be ​multipotent​,
which means they can only change into some cells in the body, not any cell, for example:
Blood (or 'haematopoietic') stem cells can only replace the various types of cells in the
blood.​ This limits how adult stem cells can be used to treat diseases
· ​However, emerging evidence suggests that adult stem cells may be able to
create various types of cells. For instance, bone marrow stem cells may be able
to create bone or heart muscle cells.

Clinical Benefits

Non-embryonic stem cell research has already resulted in numerous instances of actual
clinical benefit to patients. ​Hematopoietic is a type of adult stem cell which can be found in
bone marrow and umbilical cord blood and will become blood and immune cells. They are
the only stem cells approved by the FDA for therapy, for treatment of certain blood cancers.
Jona :)

UMBILICAL CORD STEM CELL

Umbilical cord blood collected at birth is a rich source of stem cells that can be used in research and
in the clinic to treat diseases of the blood and immune system.

With the consent of the parents​, blood can be collected from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby
shortly after birth. This ​does not hurt the baby or the mother​ in any way, and it is blood that would
otherwise be discarded as biological waste along with the placenta (another rich source of stem cells)
after the birth.

The umbilical cord blood contains haematopoietic stem cells - similar to those found in the bone
marrow - and which can be used to generate red blood cells and cells of the immune system. Cord
blood stem cells are currently used to treat a range of blood disorders and immune system conditions
such as leukaemia, anaemia and autoimmune diseases. These stem cells are used largely in the
treatment of children but have also started being used in adults following chemotherapy treatment.

Another type of cell that can also be collected from umbilical cord blood are mesenchymal stromal
cells. These cells can grow into bone, cartilage and other types of tissues and are being used in many
research studies to see if patients could benefit from these cells too.

SAFETY
And of all of the cases of stem cells that have been used over many years with umbilical cord blood,
there has not been any reported graft vs. host rejection. ​It is relatively easy to collect, with no risk to
the mother or baby. ​What we know is — umbilical stem cells are very safe and are very effective

https://www.eurostemcell.org/cord-blood-stem-cells-current-uses-and-future-challenges

LAW
The ​common law of property​ recognize that people have property rights over their human tissue.
Traditionally, the common law refused to recognize property rights in human tissue, unless the tissue
had been preserved through some work or skill. This rule gave the property rights to whoever
provided the labour or whoever paid for it to be done, which in the cord blood context gave rights to
the public banks and to the purchasers of the services of the private banks.
This broader recognition of property rights is a challenge to those who see human tissue donation as
a form of gift that is devoid of proprietary rights. Indeed, the very notion of a gift in law is a property
relationship where property passes hands without payment. Gifts can be given without conditions
attached, but ​property law​ also recognizes that gifts can be made conditionally in ways that preserve
some rights of control and access for the donor.

PRINCIPLES
Beneficence
The ethical obligation to benefit the patient, while exposing him/her to the smallest possible risk, is the
basis for the use of haematopoietic stem cells from the blood of the umbilical cord ​in specific
diseases

Non Maleficence
The traditional moral obligation of Hippocratic medicine is ​primum non nocere​, to first do no harm.
This does not hurt the baby or the mother in any way.

Autonomy
When the State guarantees the right of persons to choose freely, it shows that the autonomy – self
rule – of humans is acknowledged by it and respected. The basis for informed consent resides on the
idea that competent persons are by nature autonomous and the best guardians of their own welfare.

Justice
Every citizen has a right to the protection of his/her health through access to the national and state
health systems that guarantee it​.

MORALITY
Harvesting umbilical cord stem cells is said to be ethical as the practice will be done with the consent
of the mother and the father, assuring that there is no risk to the mother and the baby, and the
intention is good which is for the treatment of different kinds of diseases.