| Embryonic stem cells have been making headlines | | | | Technology Company Ronald Green, Ph.D., Director |
| recently. But among the talk, there is rarely a pause | | | | of Dartmouth College's Ethics Institute and Chairman |
| to explain what embryonic stem cells are, what | | | | of ACT's Ethics Advisory Board is quoted as saying, |
| makes them unique, and why they stir up so much | | | | "One of the major ethical objections of those who |
| debate. | | | | oppose the generation of human embryonic stems |
| Stem cells, unlike other cells, can renew themselves | | | | cells is that all techniques, until now, have resulted in |
| for long periods of time though cell division, and under | | | | the destruction of the embryo," and that "This |
| certain laboratory conditions, they can be stimulated | | | | technique overcomes this hurdle and has the potential |
| into becoming cells with special functions, like insulin | | | | to play a critical role in the advancement of |
| producing cells normally found in the pancreas. One of | | | | regenerative medicine. It also appears to be a way |
| the major hopes is that researching stem cells is they | | | | out of the current political impasse in this country and |
| could potentially offer a renewable source of a | | | | elsewhere." The current US policy does not allow use |
| transplantable tissues, and have a significant impact | | | | of embryos harvested made past August of 2001. |
| on the treatment of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, | | | | On June 20, 2007, the president vetoed a bill that |
| diabetes, spinal cord injures, and other diseases. | | | | would allow embryos from past that date to be |
| Recent research at Johns Hopkins University shows | | | | used, and encouraged alternative means of producing |
| however that spinal cord injuries, for example, can | | | | stem cells. |
| heal through normal patterns of activity without the | | | | The president's veto drew strong response from |
| need for stem cells. | | | | several sources, including the American Fertility |
| There are both embryonic stem cells, which are | | | | Association, who pointed to a study published the |
| derived from embryos that have been fertilized | | | | same day which showed that, in a survey of 1,000 |
| in-vitro and have been donated for research, and | | | | couples who had stored embryos 60 % said they |
| adult stem cells. The major difference between | | | | would donate embryos for stem cell research. This |
| embryonic and adult stem cells is that embryonic | | | | study was done by researchers at Duke University |
| stem cells have the ability to become many different | | | | Medical Center and John Hopkins University, and |
| cells in the body. | | | | published in the online version of Science Express. |
| While stem cell research offers many possibilities in | | | | The executive director of the American Fertility |
| the treatment of disease, it remains controversial | | | | Foundation claimed that, "The study confirms what |
| because, among other concerns, in order to create | | | | the AFA has said repeatedly: Federal policy does not |
| embryonic stem cells, the embryo must be | | | | reflect the preferences of the majority of our |
| destroyed in order to create embryonic stem cells. | | | | members." |
| At least, that used to be the case. On June 19th, | | | | Embryonic stem cell research will continue to be a |
| researchers at the Advanced Cell Technology | | | | subject of strong debate. In the meantime, it remains |
| Company announced that they had found a way to | | | | to be seen whether hopes for stem cell research |
| create embryonic stem cells without having to | | | | become a reality or whether it simply represents |
| destroy the embryo. This process is an adaptation of | | | | another means for funneling funds to the biotech |
| a common genetic test used in fertility clinics, known | | | | industry which remains long on promises and short on |
| as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. | | | | results, particularly as we heard towards the next |
| In a press release from the Advanced Cell | | | | presidential elections. |