Stem Cells Bioethics ‘Key Questions’ Postcard Series
Key questions to engage with What%are%stem%cells?%
What%types%of%stem%cells%exist?%%
Cells%that%have%the%poten2al%to:% • self%renew)(make%copies%of%themselves)%and%
There%are%three%main%types%of%stem%cells.%% [+]"Pluripotent"stem"cells"–%These%are%stem%cells%which%can% generate%all%of%the%different%cell%types%found%in%the%body.% Human)embryonic)stem)cells)(hESC)%are%perhaps%the%most%well% known.% [+]"Tissue"stem"cells"–%These%stem%cells%are%oKen%termed%adult) stem)cells.)These%cells%are%mul-potent,%meaning%that%they%can% only%differen2ate%into%a%limited%number%of%cells.%% [+]"Induced"pluripotent"stem"cells"–%Reprogrammed%specialised% cells%so%that%they%become%pluripotent,%thereby%losing%their% specialist%func2oning%and%start%to%behave%in%the%same%way%as% embryonic%stem%cells.%
• differen-ate%:%develop%into%many%different%cell% types%in%the%body%during%early%life%and%growth.%%
Did%you%know?%% The%average%age%of%your%cells%could%be%as%low%as%10% years.%Stem%cells%are%at%work%replacing%old%cells%with% new%in%many%parts%of%your%body%[a].% • There%are%a%wide%range%of%applica2ons%that%adult% stem%cells%are%having%right%now%including%treatments% for%26%forms%of%cancer,%16%auto:immune%diseases% and%10%anemias%and%other%blood%condi2ons%[b].% •
Why%take%an%interest?%%
• Cloning%technologies%offer%the%possibility%of%building%hESC%that%match%specific%pa2ents.%This%resolves%the%challenge%of% organ%transplant%rejec2on."But"is"it"acceptable"to"clone"human"life?"" • hESC%cells%are%obtained%from%many%thousands%of%human%embryos.%Some%of%the%embryo's%cells%live%on,%but%the%embryo% itself%is%destroyed%in%the%procedure.%%What"is"the"moral"status"of"the"embryo"and"should"the"embryo"be"protected" from"destruc8on?""
[a]%hTp://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/stem:cell:research:therapy:types:stem:cells:and:their:current:uses% [b]%hTp://www.stemcellresearchfacts.org/treatment:list/%%%%
Stem Cells
Stem Cells Bioethics ‘Key Questions’ Postcard Series
Key questions to engage with What%are%stem%cells?%
What%types%of%stem%cells%exist?%%
Cells%that%have%the%poten2al%to:% • self%renew)(make%copies%of%themselves)%and%
There%are%three%main%types%of%stem%cells.%% [+]"Pluripotent"stem"cells"–%These%are%stem%cells%which%can% generate%all%of%the%different%cell%types%found%in%the%body.% Human)embryonic)stem)cells)(hESC)%are%perhaps%the%most%well% known.% [+]"Tissue"stem"cells"–%These%stem%cells%are%oKen%termed%adult) stem)cells.)These%cells%are%mul-potent,%meaning%that%they%can% only%differen2ate%into%a%limited%number%of%cells.%% [+]"Induced"pluripotent"stem"cells"–%Reprogrammed%specialised% cells%so%that%they%become%pluripotent,%thereby%losing%their% specialist%func2oning%and%start%to%behave%in%the%same%way%as% embryonic%stem%cells.%
• differen-ate%:%develop%into%many%different%cell% types%in%the%body%during%early%life%and%growth.%%
Did%you%know?%% The%average%age%of%your%cells%could%be%as%low%as%10% years.%Stem%cells%are%at%work%replacing%old%cells%with% new%in%many%parts%of%your%body%[a].% • There%are%a%wide%range%of%applica2ons%that%adult% stem%cells%are%having%right%now%including%treatments% for%26%forms%of%cancer,%16%auto:immune%diseases% and%10%anemias%and%other%blood%condi2ons%[b].% •
Why%take%an%interest?%%
• Cloning%technologies%offer%the%possibility%of%building%hESC%that%match%specific%pa2ents.%This%resolves%the%challenge%of% organ%transplant%rejec2on."But"is"it"acceptable"to"clone"human"life?"" • hESC%cells%are%obtained%from%many%thousands%of%human%embryos.%Some%of%the%embryo's%cells%live%on,%but%the%embryo% itself%is%destroyed%in%the%procedure.%%What"is"the"moral"status"of"the"embryo"and"should"the"embryo"be"protected" from"destruc8on?""
[a]%hTp://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/stem:cell:research:therapy:types:stem:cells:and:their:current:uses% [b]%hTp://www.stemcellresearchfacts.org/treatment:list/%%%%
Stem Cells