STEM CELLS
These are very primitive cells, as
yet undifferentiated, from which all of the
organs of the body develop. Two types are
being investigated.
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Adult stem cells taken from the
donor, cultured and returned to the
donor.
-
Embryonic stem cells taken from
another human (an embryo), cultured
and used to treat the already
born human.
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Adult stem cells are plentiful in
bone marrow, cord blood and many other
organs. In recent years there have been
dozens of research reports of successful use
of these in treatment of a variety of pathological
conditions, e.g., diabetes. Such use
is ethical and promises to be a great boon to
mankind.
Embryonic stem cells are obtained
from four-day-old living human embryos.
This tiny human is cut open and embryonic
stem cells are extracted from him or her.
The process directly kills a four-day-old
human. Because of this direct killing, the
method of “harvesting” these cells has been
roundly condemned by traditional ethicists.
Advantages of Embryonic Stem Cells:
-
Some researchers claim that these
cells are more primitive and therefore
will more easily be grown into
various organs.
-
They are available from surplus
frozen IVF embryos.
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They are so primitive that the host
recipient will probably not reject
them.
Disadvantages:
-
They are more “plastic” and easily
(and as yet uncontrollably) grow
wild into multi-organ tissues e.g.
skin, bone, etc., in tumors.
-
They can carry virus infection from
the donor humans, through their
original sperm or ovum.
-
They are another human’s tissue and
can be rejected like other transplanted
organs.
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So far, unlike adult stem cells, there
are almost no reports of their use for
successful treatments.
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