Reversing The Ban On Stem-Cell Research
In August 2001, President Bush banned federal funding for any new embryonic stem cell lines. This week, President Obama signed an executive order to end that ban on federal funding.
By Christy Harvey, Mic Check Radio
March 11, 2009
Theresa Gratsch, a Ph.D. research specialist, views nerve cells derived from human embryonic stem cells under a microscope at the University of Michigan Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, MI. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Know Five Things
1. What Are Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem cells are “pluripotent” cells, meaning they have the potential to transform into any of the 200 cells that make up the human body. They are found in the center of a “blastocyst,” the hollow, tiny ball of about 150 cells that forms a few days after the sperm and egg join. (A blastocyst is the size of the period at the end of this sentence.) The controversy arises from the fact that to obtain the cells, the embryo is destroyed. [NIH]
2. Where They Come From
Thousands of these embryonic cell clusters are created in labs as part of in vitro fertilization treatment. A couple trying to get pregnant fertilizes multiple eggs, creating these embryonic blastocysts; once one is embedded in the womb and the woman becomes pregnant, the left-over embryonic cells usually incinerated. There are about 400,000 blastocysts in fertility clinics, most of which would previously have been destroyed. [MSNBC]
3. Not All Stem Cells Are Created Equal
So far, there are five sources of stem cells for research: embryonic, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord, adult bone marrow and the newest form, from genetically reprogrammed skin cells. The most promising are embryonic, which so far are the only ones able to turn into any kind of cell needed by the human body. New breakthroughs in cells gathered from amniotic fluid are promising, but scientists say they don’t know enough yet and need to still work with embryonic. Umbilical cord blood and adult bone marrow have primarily shown promise in treating blood and immune-system disorders. The brand-new skin cell method also show promise, but scientists say they still need to test the process extensively and have yet to figure out how to use it to create specialized tissues for transplants. [Washington Post] [MSNBC]
4. Recent Breakthroughs
Scientists used stem cells to help a paralyzed mouse walk again. Stem cells were found to heal the damaged muscles in a pig’s heart. They’ve been used to repair eyes damaged from diabetes. A 42-year-old man in Germany is free of HIV after a stem-cell transplant. Recent new research to regenerate damaged muscle tissue “could offer new hope to sufferers of muscle-wasting diseases such as myopathy and muscular dystrophy, according to researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW).” [Bloomberg] [NY Times] [San Diego] [CNN] [Science Daily]
5. What Americans Want
A Washington Post-ABC News poll in January found 59% of Americans wanted to loosen President Bush’s restrictions on stem-cell research. Two-thirds of Democrats and Independents strongly backed the change (68% and 64% respectively.) The issue is divisive within the Republican party, however. According to the Washington Post, “Conservative Republicans are widely against easing the restrictions (71 percent opposed), but moderate and liberal Republicans back the change by a 57 to 37 percent margin.” [Washington Post]
Read Additional Resources
“Eight Reasons to Applaud Action on Stem Cells,” Center for American Progress, 03/03/09 [CAP]
- Excerpt: “...The federal government will be able to set ethical guidelines that will allow research to progress cautiously and responsibly. An executive order paves the way for Congress to pass legislation that outlines policy guidelines to ensure that all stem cell research—embryonic and otherwise—is carried out with the highest ethical standards…”
“Stem Cell Research and Innovation Done Responsibly and Ethically,” Michael Rugnetta, Michael Peroski. Center for American Progress, 01/16/09 [CAP]
- Excerpt: “...The greatest potential for regenerative medicine lies in scientists’ ability to tap into the process of cell differentiation and development. This can only be achieved by tracing the development of human cells from the very beginning…”
“Reactions to Obama, stem cells,” MSNBC, 03/09/09 [MSNBC]
- Excerpt: “...Nancy Reagan: ‘I’m very grateful that President Obama has lifted the restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. These new rules will now make it possible for scientists to move forward’...”
“Obama Ends Curbs on Federal Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Research,” Washington Post, 03/09/09 [Washington Post]
- Excerpt: “...As supporters had hoped, Obama’s order came without any caveats, leaving the details to be worked out by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which will have 120 days to develop guidelines that will be used to vet requests for federal funding for research. The guidelines will address a host of thorny ethical issues raised by such research, such as how to obtain proper consent from donors of embryos used to obtain the cells…”
“Finally, a coherent stem cell policy,” Arthur Caplan phD, MSNBC, 03/09/09 [MSNBC]
- Excerpt: “The people who know best — scientists and doctors — are nearly unanimous in the belief that embryonic stem cell research ought to be generously funded and aggressively pursued…”
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— tiffanyjewelry - Mar 15, 01:42 PM - #