Stem Cell Harvesting Technologies and References

Stem cell technologies used to harvest stem cells range from simple chemistry operations, and apheresis, to complex and controversial techniques used to extract and transplant cell nuclei in processes such as somatic cell nuclear transfer. It is only in recent years that scientists have developed the ability to remove stem cells from an embryo without resulting in the destruction of that embryo, and this has opened up a major debate about using such stem cell sources that was effectively shut down for many years by legislation. The stem cell technologies have leapfrogged the legislation to some extent as this prevented federal funding of research which destroyed the embryo but not necessarily embryonic stem cell research itself. In some ways, the restrictions imposed by such regulations have made researchers more imaginative and ingenious in developing stem cell technologies.

The moral debate centered on the right to life of the embryo and whether human existence begins at the moment of ‘conception’ or at a later stage when a foetus is able to exist outside the womb. The ethics of stem cell research have provoked bitter disputes between patient advocacy groups and leaders of the Catholic Church and other Christian groups and has become extremely politicized in the US at least. Often, as the passions run high on both sides of the moral debate, the complex stem cell technologies are lost and are misrepresented, misunderstood, and misappropriated in defence of a specific conviction. Confusion over embryonic stem cell research and adult stem cell research also clouds the issue and is poorly understood by many politicians who have the power to vote against funding reforms despite their insufficient appreciation of stem cell science.

References

Kokkinaki, M., Sahibzada, N., Golestaneh, N., Human iPS-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) Cells Exhibit Ion Transport, Membrane Potential, Polarized VEGF Secretion and Gene Expression Pattern Similar to Native RPE, Stem Cells, 2011.

Muller-Borer, B.J., Collins, M.C., et al, Quantum dot labeling of mesenchymal stem cells, Journal of Nanobiotechnology 2007, 5:9doi:10.1186/1477-3155-5-9

University of California – Irvine (2008, March 9). New Stem Cell Technique Improves Genetic Alteration. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­/releases/2008/03/080307150657.htm

Fennel JA., Alternate nuclear transfer is no alternative for embryonic stem cell research, Bioethics, 2008 Feb;22(2):84-91.