Human Cloning & Stem Cell Research Chris Deaver St. John the Evangelist Parish March 31, 2009.

Human Cloning& Stem Cell Research

Chris Deaver

St. John the Evangelist Parish

March 31, 2009

Virtual Field Trip

National Institute of Health– Bethesda, MD

Maryland General Assembly– Annapolis, MD

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith– Vatican City

Embryonic Development

Embryo – developing human being from fertilization to 8 weeks

– Zygote – fertilized embryo; first state of development– Morula – 8+ cell embryo; 3+ days after fertilization– Blastocyst – embryo of about 150 cells made of an outer

spherical layer (trophoblast), a fluid filled cavity, and a cluster of cells on the interior (inner cell mass)

Fetus – developing human being from 8 weeks to birth

(A) – first cell division (B) – 4-cell zygote (C), (D), & (E) – developing morula (F) - blastocyst

Implantation– Blastocyst embeds itself into the uterine wall– Trophoblastic shell forms connection with maternal blood supply

Types of Stem Cells

Embryonic Stem Cells– Totipotent Cells – give rise to all tissue of the body plus

extra-embryonic tissue such as the placenta– Pluripotent Cells – give rise to all tissue of the body

Adult Stem Cells– Unipotent Cells – give rise to only one type of body tissue– Found in bone marrow, heart, brain, skeletal muscle, skin,

teeth, liver, intestine, ovaries, testis

Current Medical Treatments

Adult Stem Cells– Autoimmune diseases

such as MS, Lupus, Crohn’s disease

– Blood & liver related diseases

– Corneal damage (replacement corneas grown & implanted)

– Cardiac muscle repair after heart attack

– Skin wounds healed

Adult Stem Cells (cont.)– Cancer treatments (in

combination with chemotherapy and/or radiation)

– Sickle-cell anemia– Parkinson’s disease– Cartilage & bone damage

(treatments span 40 years)

(National Institute of Health)

Current Medical Treatments

Embryonic Stem Cells

– “In late January 2009, the California-based company Geron received FDA clearance to begin the first human clinical trials of cells derived from human embryonic stem cells.”

(Source: National Institute of Health)

Animal/Human Cloning Somatic Cell Nuclear

Transfer (SCNT) = Cloning – a process that combines an enucleated egg and the nucleus of a somatic (adult) cell which is stimulated to begin cell division.

Therapeutic Cloning – SCNT to create an embryo genetically identical to the donor for the harvesting of stem cells or other research purposes.

Reproductive Cloning – SCNT in order to create an animal genetically identical to the donor animal, to develop to birth. The first reproductive clone was Dolly the sheep in 1996.

Benefits & Uses of Cloning

Targeted Treatments– Cloning to obtain stem cells leads to treatments

unlikely to be rejected by the patient

Research Control– Use of cloned subjects can be used to control for

genetic differences in test subjects.

Improved Breeding– Used to increase the prominence of superior genetic

characteristics

Obstacles to Cloning

Health Issues– Clones often have latent health issues and defects

which lead to shortened life-spans A Numbers Game

– Dozens or even hundreds or trials need to be undertaken to obtain one cloned embryo. The first human stem cell line from a cloned embryo used 242 eggs obtained from 16 women.

Human Exploitation– A shortage of research material (eggs) could lead to

“farming” genetic material from the poor

Questions on the Science?

Stem Cell Executive Order

Signed March 9, 2009, by President Obama

Lifted the restriction on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research that President Bush put in place on August 9, 2001.

“We will vigorously support scientists who pursue [embryonic stem cell] research.”

“And we will ensure that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction.”

Maryland Stem CellResearch Act of 2006

§ 5-2B-02. Considerations

– (a) A person who conducts State-funded stem cell research shall conduct the research in a manner that considers the ethical and medical implications of the research.

– (b) A person who conducts State-funded stem cell research may not engage in any research that intentionally and directly leads to human cloning.

Maryland Stem CellResearch Act of 2006

§ 5-2B-13. Prohibition on Human Cloning

– (a) A person may not conduct or attempt to conduct human cloning.

– (b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $200,000 or both.

Maryland Stem CellResearch Act of 2006

§ 5-2B-01. Definitions

– (g) "Human cloning" means the replication of a human being through the production of a precise genetic copy of nuclear human DNA or any other human molecule, cell, or tissue, in order to create a new human being or

to allow development beyond an embryo.

Maryland is a Leaderin Stem Cell Research

Maryland Stem Cell Research Symposium– December 3, 2008 – first annual gathering– Hosted by Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission

One of three largest funds in the US – $56 million in state funding in 3 years– $200 million commitment over 10 years– 147 applications for funding in 2009 - $85 million requested

Hosting 2009 World Stem Cell Summit– September 21-23, in Baltimore– 1500 “stem cell stakeholders” from around the world

Questions on the Law?

Catholic Ethical Principles

Guiding principles of all ethics are love of God and love of neighbor

The ends never justify the means

In order to take action, the primary purpose, motivation, or activity must be morally licit– Homicide is permitted in self-defense, only if it is

necessary to protect life. The primary motivation is the protection of life, not the killing of another.

Catholic Bioethical Principles

Human life begins at the time of conception, fertilization, or first activation after cloning

Human life should be generated by procreation (cooperation in God’s creation), not by reproduction

Each human person is made in the image and likeness of God, and deserves to be treated with full respect and dignity. “Personhood” does not wait until birth.

Cloning: Ethical Concerns

Distinction of “having” vs “making” a child– Child is treated as a product to be manipulated, not

a human being with full rights and dignity

Extreme loss of life– Dozens of human beings would need to be created

to obtain one viable clone

If allowed to live, cloned child would only have one genetic parent– Child would be a genetic twin of its parent, genetic

child of its grandparent, genetic sibling to its aunt…

Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Ethical Concerns

Destruction of Innocent Life is Never Licit– The ends of medical research, even the healing of

millions, does not justify the taking of even one innocent life. All human life is of infinite value

Products of Improper Medical Research May be Difficult to Avoid– Vaccines and treatments created from this research

may become widespread and the only option available

– No “proximate material cooperation” allowed

Questions on Ethics?

A Brighter Future is Here

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)– Adult cells which have been “reprogrammed” into an

embryonic stem cell-like state.– First reported in 2006 in mice and 2007 in humans

Dr. James Thompson, pioneer in embryonic stem cell research: “A decade from now, [the debate over the destruction of embryos] will be just a funny historical footnote.”

– May demonstrate all the benefits of cloned embryonic stem cells, without the medical or moral concerns