Embryo Research Target: What is embryo research? Why is embryo research controversial?
Starter • What is a stem cell? • YouTube - Introduction to Stem Cells
What is Embryo Research? (Stem cell research) • •
Embryo research is ‘the scientific study of an animal in the early stages of development’ There are different types of embryo research, such as
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stem cell research, cloning Research on the foetal tissue.
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The issue of embryo research is a very controversial one. There are some very serious moral and ethical arguments against the issue of embryo research.
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Right – An embryonic stem cell
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Pro Life Definition
Pro Choice Definition
Start of pregnancy
At conception
When the embryo imbeds itself in the womb lining; about 12 days after conception
Start of human life
At conception
Various definitions: e.g. at viability, or at birth
Abortion
The artificial termination of human life at any time from conception to birth
Any termination of life between implantation and the start of the third trimester
What are stem cells? Stem cells are unspecialised cells that are thought to be able to reproduce themselves indefinitely and, under the right conditions, to develop into mature cells with specialised functions, e.g., skin, pancreas, organs. Hence, new cells can be grown from stem cells to replace damaged cells and give medical relief.
Where are stem cells found? They are found in embryos at very early stages of development (see picture) and in some adult organs, e.g., bone marrow and brain.
They may be hence taken from an adult, with difficulty, but alternatively, they may be grown in and embryo, then extracted, or ‘harvested’, for medical purposes.
What are the aims of stem cell research? There are certain diseases that are caused by the death or damage of certain cells which the body cannot replace (e.g. burns, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and spinal cord injuries). At present the only hope for such patients is a transplant but: • transplants need organ donors • tissue matches are not easy to achieve • the procedure is complex and expensive Stem cell research holds out the hope of treating such diseases by generating new cells.
The pro-life position •
All pro-life conclusions are based on the foundational belief that a human life begins at the time fertilisation of the ovum. This means that the embryo is viewed as a human being with all of the rights of an adult. Experiments, which subject an ovum to any significant risk, are the ethical equivalent of the infamous medical experiments that were inflicted on unwilling and uniformed victims in Nazi death camps. Ends do not justify the means. Thus, no matter how helpful to mankind embryo is eventually killed or subjected to a significant risk.
• “That way lies the moral approach of a totalitarian society, that thinks it can use and abuse individual human beings in accordance with some grand scheme promising ‘the greatest good for the greatest number.’…” [Richard Doerflinger, National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Response at a PBS News hour forum (Ref. 6)].
The pro-choice position • Pro-choice beliefs are based on the assumption that a fertilized ovum is not a human being; it is rather potential human life. Pro-choice advocates differ in belief concerning when life becomes human life: Some argue that this happens:
When is life human? • When the foetus resembles a human; • The point of viability when the foetus can live independently, or • When the foetal brain develops to the point where it experiences self-awareness, or • At birth, or at some other stage of pregnancy.
Creating embryos and/or performing experiments on existing embryos is justifiable if:
• The research has a reasonable potential of advancing medical knowledge and enhancing human life, and • If the embryos are killed well before they make the transition to a human person
Actual Embryo Size
Against •
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To clone Dolly the sheep, it took 278 attempts Dolly the sheep has suffered quite a few problems, scientists are finding it hard to define the age of her do they work out her age from when she was born, or from the sheep that she was cloned from? She already has severe arthritis, something that wouldn’t usually occur until the sheep was much older, but is happening to her at the age of three. There are also concerns that if cloning human embryos is legalised, people try to create the ‘perfect’ child, that there would be a superior race. These lead to the fear that people such as Hitler could use them to their advantage; he wanted an Aryan race blonde hair, blue eyes – with this technology, people who have the imperfections that make them who they are would be bred out.
For • There is, on the other hand, a strong argument for cloning. Cloning could help lots of people who have debilitating illnesses. There was a case shown last year on the news about a young girl in America who had a hereditary disease that affected a certain part in her body, and the only cure was a donor off somebody. Her parents wanted her to get better, so they had IVF, but the scientists made sure that the embryo didn’t have the bad gene. When the baby was born, part of the baby’s tissue was taken and given to the girl, who after this got better. This shows us that sometimes embryo research can be used for good, and could be used to help people, who in other cases wouldn’t have a chance of life.
Activities • Name the three different types of embryo research • Use the table to fill in when life does/does not begin according to the peoples position. • Explain the following terms: • Conception • Viable • Implantation • Trimester • What is the main point of disagreement between Pro Life and Pro Choice groups? • What were the complications involved in cloning Dolly? • What are the dangers of cloning? Name three • Explain a positive side of cloning? Name three