The Potential Benefits of Stem Cell Research

Scientists have expressed great excitement over the potential for stem cell research, although it is still in the early stages. It could be used to learn how to turn genes on and off in order to prevent genetic diseases, grow organs for transplant, and practice somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning). One example of how stem cells could be used is in the case of Parkinson's disease. People who suffer from Parkinson's, approximately 2% of the American population over 65 years of age, have a progressive degeneration and loss of dopamine producing neurons. Lack of dopamine leads to loss of mobility, tremors and rigidity of movement. In order to cure Parkinson's, dopamine producing neurons are needed. Already with embryonic stem cells it is possible to produce a cell with dopamine producing functions. In rate the gene Nurr1 was introduced into embryonic stem cells and then the cells were grown in cell culture. When the cells were transplanted into the rats, they produced dopamine and increased motor capability. ¹

Advanced Cell Technology (ACT), a leading stem cell research company based in Worcester, MA, sees stem cell research as the method to search for cures to neuro-degenerative disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, retinal disorders, as well as blood and vascular disorders. ACT states that 23,000 organs were transplanted in 2003, but over 95,000 people needed organ transplants. Over one million people are on a waiting list to receive a pancreas, but only four hundred were donated in the last year. ACT sees stem cell research as the way to be able to grow organs for transplant and to save lives.

As of November 2001, ACT has been able to prompt a human egg to develop on its own without the use of sperm.² With this method, conception does not take place. The goal would be to use people's own DNA to create embryos which could be used to extract stem cells and then grow organs ex-vivo. These organs would be a perfect match to their recipients and organ rejection could be avoided.

What are potential uses of stem cell research?

• Discover the process by which undifferentiated cells become differentiated

• Cancer and birth defects caused by abnormal cell division and differentiation could be prevented

• To test new drugs, such as cancer stem cell lines currently used to test anti-tumor drugs

• Regenerative or reparative cell based therapies such as healthy heart muscles being generated in a cell culture to transplant into a heart attack patient

What is needed in order to make this happen?

• Proliferation of stem cells. A large and sufficient quantity of tissue would be needed for any successful transplant.

• Understanding of the complete complex set of signals which cause stem cells to differentiate.

• Transplanted organs and tissue must be able to survive after the transplant, integrate into a new microenvironment, function normally for the rest of the patient's life, and refrain from harming the recipient of the transplant.³

The potential of stem cell research is enormous, on the other hand, this research also brings up several questions. Why not just use adult stem cells in order to avoid the ethical debate? Are those 400,000 frozen embryos people? Is the removal of the stem cells from an embryo the destruction of life? Can these stem cell lines and embryos be treated as property? These are questions that many people are asking.

To read more by Heather Carreiro on the topic, see the following articles:

What are Stem Cells?

The Bush Administration and Stem Cell Research

End of Life: What Does it Mean to be Brain Dead?

When Does Life Begin According to Jewish Law?

Stem Cell Resarch: A Christian Perspective

Stem Cell Research & Abortion: When Does Life Begin?

Sources:

1) National Institute of Health.

2) Advanced Cell Technology.

3) National Institute of Health.