Assignment: Multipotential stem cells

Assignment: Multipotential stem cells

· Are derived from pluripotential stem cells and can be found in adults. These cells can only form specific types of cells to form tissues.

· Stem cells can be used to treat a variety of diseases such as:

· Diabetes

· Heart disease

· Parkinson’s Disease

· Alzheimer’s Disease

· Liver Disease

· Autoimmune disease

· In the future we will develop new techniques to grow and replace skin tissue, broken bones, and even breast tissue.

· One of the most exciting new research projects from MD Anderson Cancer Center involves programming stem cells to acct as “smart bombs” by delivering engineered genes to destroy cancer cells. Another involves using stem cells to address fertility problems.

· The ethical controversy is not about the ability to end disease, but rather the use of frozen embryos to conduct research.

· Cells are removed from frozen embryos, which are obtained in a variety of ways, including some that are discarded by in-vitro fertilization clinics.

· Some of the embryos are grown in the laboratory especially for the purpose of stem cell research, some are obtained from terminated pregnancies and a few are donated by couples who have excess embryos as a result of IVF.

· Religious groups and abortion opponents have voiced criticism since the embryos used in this research are destroyed.

· These groups believe an embryo is a living human being.

· Congress has banned all federal funding of this project, but it does not affect private stem cell research.

· A more noncontroversial approach to stem cell research is offered by researchers who use sources other than embryos.

· Blood stem cells can regenerate specialized cells to treat blood disorders such as leukemia.

· Blood stem cells come from umbilical cords.

· On October 18, 2005, Acting Governor Cody created the nations’s first umbilical cord and placental blood banks for research.

· Cord blood work is very promising and acceptable to most groups that oppose “traditional” stem cell research

· Stem cell research is in the news daily and is being used as an election platform for many candidates.

· Current status

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· What are the potential benefits?

· What are the ethical concerns that would forbid the practice? (if any)

· Current level of technology requires several hundred attempts to create one’s success

· Is this acceptable when dealing with humans?

· President Obama overturned stem cell research in 2009

Genetic Testing

· Potential

· Concerns

· Prenatal testing

· Chronic villi sampling (CVS)

· Amniocentesis

· Role of society

· Role of parents

· Review the case involving the woman with Huntington’s disease genetic history – discussion board?

· What is to be done?