Michael Tucker

Dr. Jennifer Taylor

Stem Cell Sources Expanded
21 March 2016
Stem Cell Research Expanded Sources
Bevington, Linda K. An Overview of Stem Cell Research. The Center for
Bioethics & Human
Dignity: Trinity International University. (2005): n.
pag. Web. 19 Mar. 2016.
https://cbhd.org/stem-cell-research/overview
This page from Trinity International University expands on how
scientists first reported having successfully isolated and cultured
human embryonic stem cells in November of 1998, and where weve
come since then. Bevington first speaks about how this
announcement sparked an intense and unrelenting debate between
those who approve of embryonic stem cell research and those who are
opposed to it. Then she talks about how it could develop treatments
for afflictions such as Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, heart
disease, and diabetes. A unique contrase that Bevington made which I
plan on disucssing in my paper is the difference between adult stem
cells and embryonic stem cells. Both can be used in various
applications, but the embryonic type are specialized and have a wider
array of functions processes that make it unique and more
controversial.
Brown, Hannah. Worlds first genetically modified human embryo raises
ethical concerns. The Conservation US. University of Adelaide, 26 Apr.
2015. Web. 19 Mar. 2016.
http://theconversation.com/worlds-first-genetically-modified-humanembryo-raises- ethical-concerns-40766
This article from The Conservation was my first source when I began
researching information regarding my topic. It started out discussing
the ethical and safety implications of creating the worlds first
geneticallymodified human embryo. Afterwards, Brown mentioned
how a group from China had in fact created the first geneticallymodified human embryo. She then went into detail about how that
group from China went about modifying DNA by using a CRISPR/Cas9
system in order to target a specific segment of DNA and splice it out of
the DNA strand completely. Splicing our certain segments of DNA from
a human/organisms genome could potentially prevent them from
acquiring certain disease or illness. Preventative measures are one of
the main reasons why further stem cell research, specifically regarding
genetically-modified human embryos, are imperative for the future for
mankind as a whole. Along with supporting for furthering this research,
this article also serves to provide insight on the contrary side of the

argument with respect to the ethical issues. Brown provided me with

an ample introductory argument for both sides of the issue and I will
use the information from this article to support my thesis.
Cyranoski, David, and Reardon, Sara. Chinese scientists genetically modify
human embryos.
Nature: International weekly journal of science.
(2015): n. pag. Web. 19 Mar. 2016.
http://www.nature.com/news/chinese-scientists-genetically-modifyhuman-embryos- 1.17378
This article focuses on how Chinese scientists have began editing the
genomes of human embryos. This immediately sparked debate about
the ethical implication of this work. The Chinese scientists attempted
to put everyones minds as ease by stating they only used non-viable
embryos obtained from local fertillity clinics. A non-viable embryo is an
embryo that cannot result in a live birth. Using these non-viable
embryos was a great idea for the Chinese scientists. These scientists
attempted to modify a gene responsible for a potentially fatal blood
disorder. While in some aspects successful, they encountered serious
obstacles which were interesting to learn about and to consider.
Besides the ethical issues, potential obstacles may still stand in the
way for scientists to successfully modify a human embryo. I plan on
using the questions brought up regarding various obstacles that the
Chinese scientists encountered in my argument to discuss whether we
as humans are even ready to begin such research and if thats
something we should leave to nature rather than creating our own
version of a person.
Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority. United Kingdom Government,
09 Jul. 2012. Web.
19 Mar. 2016. < http://www.hfea.gov.uk/161.html>
The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority is the regulatory
agency for the research of stem cells and human embryos. They have
the power by law to grant licenses for research projects involving
human embryos and those applying for such licensure must adhere to
strict guidelines. The HFEA are the first regulator in the world to
approve this uncertain technology. The content found on this web page
and throughout the rest of the website helped me understand the legal
limitations of research in this field. The site also informed me about
where the embryos used in research come from, the several different
research purposes, and other publications about genetically-modified
human embryos. The relevance of this information will aid me as a
guideline for what I consider potentially crosses the ethical line or
what I feel is the most important purpose for conducting this research.

Hug, Kristina. Embryonic stem cell research: an ethical dilemma.

EuroStemCell. 05 Nov. 2015. Web. 19 Mar. 2016.
http://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/embryonic-stem-cellresearchethical-dilemma
This source from EuroStemCell greatly aided in my understanding of
the two sides of the ethical argument with embryonic stem cells. They
take a very neutral stance and maintain a sence of unbiasedness that
really made me like this particular source. It starts off by explaining
that in order to obtain embryonic stem cells, the early embryo has to
be destroyed. This means destroying a potential human life. But
embryonic stem cell research could lead to the discovery of new
medical treatments that would alleviate the suffering of many people.
These few sentences aptly conveys this sources neutrality. Four
separate moral statuses are compared and contrasted, and more
importantly the arguments for and also the arguments against each
status were discussed. One of the statuses discussed that is my
personal favorite is number four: The embryo has no moral status at all
an embryo is organic material with a status no different from other
body parts. The blastocyte used when extracting stem cells hasnt
been introduced to the uterus yet so it couldnt possible be a human
with beliefs, desires, expectations, aims, etc.
Mummery, Christine, and Wert, Guido de. Human embryonic stem cells:
research, ethics and
policy. Oxford Jounals: Human Reproduction 18.4
(2003) : 672-682. Web. 19 Mar. 2016.
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/18/4/672.full
This article from Oxford went into much more detail about stem cells
and what they are, how we can use/manipulate them, the potential
applications of them, an ethical exploration of it, the status of human
embryonic stem cells, the ethics of it, and something called
therapeutic cloning. Also the fact that this article is from a very
reputable journal makes me feel as if Mummery and Wert have the
most factual and up-to-date information on the subject at hand. The
largest section of the article has to do with the potential applications of
human embryonic stem (hES) cells. The authors elaborate on
fundamental research ranging from the causes of early pregnancy loss,
to the failure of pregnancy in older women, to transplantation
medicine, where stem cells could be used to replace damaged cells.
This source is most important to me because I plan on primarily using
the potential applications of hES cells section to argue my thesis for
further research.
Myths and Misconceptions About Stem Cell Research. California Institute for
Regenerative
Medicine, Feb. 2016. Web. 19 Mar. 2016.

https://www.cirm.ca.gov/patients/myths-andcell-research

misconceptions-about-stem-

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is a branch of the

California State government that governs research within the state.
CIRM-funded researchers must comply with a comprehensive set of
regulations, which were among the first formal policies governing the
conduct of stem cell research. On this web page, the CIRM talks about
where embryos come from to create stem cell lines and the importance
of the fact that they are voluntarily donated to be used for research. As
opposed to the HFEA regulatory agency in the UK, CIRM is based in the
US so this site can gave me something to look at that was closer to
home and more in-tune with my governments current regulations.
Another note from this source is that embryonic stem cells arent from
aborted fetuses. This is a major misconception that misconstrues
peoples opinion about reseach in this field. I plan on using this source
to contrast the stem cell research regulations between the HFEA in the
UK and also the CIRM in the state of California.

Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research. ATS Journals: American Journal of

Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 173.9 (2006): 1043-45. Web. 19
Mar. 2016.
http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.200601-116ST
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) is an organization who focuses on
serving patients suffering with lung disease through research, patient
care, and various other methods. They also are advocates of making
federal funding available for research using human embryonic stem
cells with appropriate guidelines and federal and institutional
oversight. ATS understands the importance of furthering the research
of embryonic stem cells and the potential applications of such research
on their patients suffering from respiratory diseases. What I like most
about this article is that it discusses the limitations of George W. Bush
Administrations policy on human embryonic stem cell research. Bushs
policy placed extremely serious limitations on embryonic stem cell
reserch which hindered the advancement of potentially finding
treatments and cures for various diseases affecting millions of people.
In retrospect, we can look at Bushs policy and where it hindered the
science community so that we can only progress for the betterment of
mankind. Those reasons are why this article is a good source to use in
my paper.
Siddique, Haroon. British researchers get green light to genetically modify
human embryos.
The Guardian. Media Limited, 01 Feb. 2016. Web. 19

Mar. 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/feb/01/humanembryo-genetic-modifyregulator-green-light-research

This source is about Kathy Niakan, a stem cell scientist at the Francis
Crick Institute in London, to preform genome editing on human
embryos. She, like everybody else in the UK, has to apply for a license
through HFEA, the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, in
order to study embryos. This source also goes into detail about the
parameters of her license and what shes able to do with it, along with
some basic background information on the process of repairing a faulty
gene gene editing. It also goes into some detail about radical new
treatments for conditions such as muscular dystrophy and sickle cell
disease. I will use the information that found in this source to support
my argument that further research in this subject is important and has
the potential to save thousands if not millions of lives.
Tachibana, Masahito et al. Human Embryonic Stem Cells Derived by Somatic
Cell Nuclear Transfer. Elsevier Inc.: Cell. 153.6 (2013): 1228-38. Web. 19
Mar. 2016.
http://www.cell.com/abstract/S0092-8674(13)00571-0
This article focuses on the process by which female egg cells can be
used to generate patient-matched embryonic stem cells. This is the
best article I have found that has gone into excruciating detail into how
each cell matures through the stages of becoming whichever final cell
is desired. Numerous pictures are included as well as a video on the
entire process. I plan on using this source to specifically portray the
way embryonic stem cells are created and how they can be used to
differentiate and multiply into whatever human cell that we can
basically think of.