Rescuing human embryonic stem cell research: the blastocyst transfer method (original) (raw)
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ALTEX, 2008
Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are now routinely cultured in many laboratories, and differentiation protocols are available to generate a large variety of cell types. In an ongoing ethical debate opinions of different groups are based on varying sets of religious, historical, cultural and scientific arguments as well as on widely differing levels of general information. We here give an overview of the biological background for non-specialists, and address all is- sues of the current stem cell debate that are of concern in different cultures and states. Thirty-five chapters address embryo definition, potential killing and the beginning of human life, in addition to matters of human dignity, patenting, commercialisation, and potential alternatives for the future, such as induced pluripotent (reprogrammed) stem cells. All arguments are compiled in a synopsis, and compromise solutions, e.g. for the definition of the beginning of personhood and for assigning dignity to embryos, are su...
Acta bioethica, 2009
The possibility of using human embryonic stem cells (ESC) for therapeutic purposes raises serious ethical objections, the most fundamental one being that until recently the only way to obtain ESC was with procedures that necessarily destroyed living human embryos. Due to this, research in this field has been rejected by many scientists, bioeticists, and has been banned by law in several countries. Efforts have been made to find procedures to obtain ESC without destroying embyros or putting them at risk. This paper reviews the scientific, technical and ethical aspects of the different strategies developed for this purpose. Embryo biopsy, ESC obtained from "dead" embryos, ESC produced by "parthenogenetic embryos", ESC obtained by Altered Nuclear Transfer and induced pluripotent cells (iPSC) obtained by direct epigenetic reprogramming of somatic cells are the main five alternative reported in recent studies.
Rescuing human embryonic stem cell research: The possibility of embryo reconstitution
Metaphilosophy, 2007
We discuss in this essay the alternative techniques proposed for the isolation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) that attempt to satisfy moral issues surrounding killing embryos but show that these techniques are either redundant or do not achieve their intended aim. We discuss the difficulties associated with defining a human embryo and how the lack of clarity on this issue antagonises the ethical debate and impedes hESC research. We present scientific evidence showing that isolation of hESCs does not necessarily ‘‘kill’’ human embryos. In addition, we argue that even those who accord inviolable moral status to the embryo should agree that hESC research is morally obligatory, as it is beneficial to the developmental potential of the embryo and society as a whole.
NEVER ENDING STORY HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS SCIENCE AND BIOETHICS
The paper presents some of the scientific and ethical problems hampering the use of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in biomedical research. A brief review of the real possibilities of employment of hESC or adult stem cells in therapy, as resulting from experts' reports is offered. The substrate of doubts surrounding status of human embryo and therefore legitimacy of research conducted on hESCs is also commented.
From the time that James Thomson and colleagues (1998) fi rst announced the successful derivation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines, there has been a heated debate about the ethical acceptability of hESC research because this research entails the destruction of human embryos (see Prainsack et al., 2008a). In an effort to quell this debate, governments, quasi-governmental organizations, and professional organizations around the world have sought to develop ethical standards for embryo research and hESC research, and to entrench these standards in laws or research guidelines. Together, these many and varied ethical and legal standards for embryo research and hESC research currently shape the fi eld of stem cell science. Their importance can be measured by the fact that scientists consider these standards In an effort to quell ongoing debate about the ethics of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research, there have been concerted efforts to develop ethical standards for both emb...
Human embryonic stem cells and respect for life
Journal of Medical Ethics, 2000
The purpose of this essay is to stimulate academic discussion about the ethical justification of using human primordial stem cells for tissue transplantation, cell replacement, and gene therapy. There are intriguing alternatives to using embryos obtained from elective abortions and in vitro fertilisation to reconstitute damaged or dysfunctional human organs. These include the expansion and transplantation of latent adult progenitor cells.
A Metaphysical and Ethical Defense of Embryo Research
In this article, I argue in favor of the moral permissibility of using surplus embryos (embryos leftover from fertility treatments) for human embryonic stem cell research. I will begin with a metaphysical argument: human blastocysts cannot be regarded as the beginning stages of an individual human life because fully developed human beings and blastocysts do not share an essential property-individuality. Because human beings are essentially individuals, and because human blastocysts are not, there can be no identity relation between them. Second, I argue that, even if we grant embryos the status of persons for the sake of argument, this does not necessarily entail the moral impermissibility of embryonic stem cell research since an extrauterine embryo cannot be given a right to compel others to gestate it, given that no person has a right to force others to undergo forced bodily intrusion as a method of sustenance. This makes the demise of these embryos inevitable, unless their respective genetic mother chooses to gestate (although embryo adoption is being compelled in at least one state as an alternative to destruction). Finally, given their destruction, I argue that using these embryos for research purposes illustrates a far more respectful attitude than destroying them in fertility clinics.
On the origin, use and destination of human embryos
European Journal of Endocrinology, 2004
The moral acceptability or non-acceptability of the use of human embryos in research raises questions on several philosophical levels. The mixing-up of these levels results in strongly defended and endless debates. In this contribution, arguments on three levels will be discussed, the ontological, the practical and instrumental and the level of human relationships. It is concluded that, on the latter level, the moral problems of the other two are significant, but not conclusive. The decision to allow or to ban research with human embryos is charged with full human responsibility.