Bush’s big decision
Since President George W. Bush’s decision on embryonic stem-cell research, many have been left evaluating the ethical, political and scientific benefits or downfalls to his decision. Others are simply hoping for promising answers in the future.
Supporter of embryonic stem-cell research, Sen. Orin Hatch, said in a letter to the President on June 13, “I urge you to support federal funding of human pluripotent embryonic stem-cell research.”
On Aug. 9, Bush announced his decision to allow limited funding on already existing stem-cell lines for embryonic stem-cell research.
The science and research behind Bush’s decision.
Re-searchers at Utah State University are not currently working on stem-cell research or trying to differentiate stem cells that can be used for therapeutical purposes, said John Morrey, Research Professor, Animal Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Dept.
Morrey and Richard Sherlock, professor of Philosophy, teach a course at USU entitled Ethics and Biotechnology, that explores issues such as embryonic stem-cell research.
Researchers at USU have worked in various degrees with cell cultures, animal-cell testing and cloning.
Stem-cell research is deriving cells from embryos. Then, the cells differentiate into tissues/organs to perform functions, said Kamal Rashid, associate director for Education and Outreach Research.
Morrey teaches ethics in biology and provided a lesson for how stem-cell research begins, proceeds and can be understood.
First, it is important to understand the definition of a stem cell. Stem cells can differentiate into other types of cells, such as liver cells or pancreatic cells, Morrey said.
“Stem cell is [the] basic of life,” Rashid said.
Embryonic stem-cell research enable researchers to find cures to diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, spinal injuries and Huntington’s.
Stem-cell research “alleviates the suffering of a select group of people that have these kinds of diseases,” Rashid said.
There are two types of stem cells: Adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. An example of adult stem cells can be found in the blood, such as white-blood cells or red-blood cells. These cells can also differentiate themselves into more cells, Morrey said.
“A lot is known about blood-stem cells. The new excitement is, they’ve started to find other stem cells,” Morrey said.
The second type of stem cell is the embryonic stem cell which was the topic of Bush’s decision.
The embryonic stem cells are the earliest cells of our origin, Morrey said.
As research will determine, these cells may be able to develop into any cell in the body.
As the embryonic stem cell divides, it can eventually differentiate, Morrey said.
Where do you embryonic stem cells come from?
Embryonic stem cells can be obtained through the use of human embryos.
Once embryonic stem cells are obtained, they are placed in a petri dish and supplemented with media, which is where the cell derives its nutrients.
The cells then grow, multiply and differentiate, Rashid said.
“It is not yet known which is going to be better, adult-stem cells or embryonic stem cells,” Morrey said. “You got to do the research to figure out the answer.”
The keyword to Bush’s decision is “research.”
The research lies in finding out what biochemical signals will tell the embryonic stem cell to turn into a brain cell, liver cell, kidney cell or pancreatic cell.
Scientists are figuring out how to get the stem cells to differentiate, Morrey said.
Some stem cells are capable of regenerating, allowing stem cell lines, Rashid said.
Bush’s decision may pave paths for hope
Before Bush’s decision, Pam Anderson, a USU graduate, was already a supporter of embryonic stem-cell research. Anderson’s 3-year-old son, Cody, was diagnosed with diabetes 14 months ago.
Anderson sent a letter last September to Congress stating how diabetes has affected their lives. Cody, the only delegate from Utah and 200 other delegates were invited to attend a Children’s Congress Conference for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Anderson and Cody were sent out to the Capitol to meet with senators and attend senate hearings that dealt with the issue of stem-cell research.
Anderson and Cody met individually with Sen. Orin Hatch and Sen. Robert Bennett.
Hatch set the conference up to help Bush with his decision, Anderson said.
Anderson said she is very appreciative to Hatch.
Hatch has used Cody’s name as a support of the issue in his speeches, Anderson said.
She said she was hoping in one way or another, “We’d have some type of influence.”
Hope is the binding force in Bush’s decision for families like the Andersons. If the embryonic stem-cell research could find a way to differentiate pancreatic stem cells, it would mean no more insulin shots for Cody.
“It’s hard to deal with diabetes and a 3-year-old child,” she said.
Anderson explained a typical day for Cody which involves anywhere from three to six insulin shots per day.
In the morning he is tested for his blood sugar level, and then is given a shot that consists of two insulins.
This will cover him for breakfast.
His carbohydrates must be figured which follows lunch time.
At lunch, his carbohydrates and proteins are tested once again. In the afternoon, he is tested and then given an insulin shot.
Before dinner, he is tested and given a shot. At bed time he is tested and given his final shot.
“[We] have to know every bit of food he eats,” Anderson said. “Some days he’s going through a growth spurt.”
Factors such as a growth spurt can off the norm of Cody’s day.
In regards to the opposing views toward research on embryonic stem cells, Anderson said, “It depends on what people define the beginning of life.”
As far as Cody expressing his view, Anderson said that he doesn’t like the shots.”
“He’ll never have a break from that,” Anderson said.
Ethical issues behind embryonic stem cell research
The key issues of the debate are, number one, human embryos are being used for research. Second, companies own the stem-cell line, not the government, Morrey said.
Morrey stated his definition of ethics.
“Ethics is a survey of what the common man or woman through all ages and cultures feels is good or bad.”
“It’s [stem-cell research] one of the most intriguing ethical issue of our time,” Morrey said.
Sherlock supports Bush’s decision.
“I think Bush made a good decision. I think if he went further and permitted the distraction of early embryos for research purposes, he’d be opening a door to something really awful,” Sherlock said.
Bush’s decision points out that the 60 stem-cell lines already in existence may continue research since the frozen embryoswould have been destroyed anyway.
Ruth Hubbard is a professor at Harvard University and author of Exploding the Gene Myth. Hubbard is also on the board of the Council for Responsible Genetics.
Hubbard said Bush’s decision was based on politics.
“I think where he drew the line was the result of political calculation,” Hubbard said. “I don’t see it as a very sensible decision. I personally think that a great deal of research needs to be done to find out how useful and effective stem cells are gonna be.”
Hubbard sees other ways the research could be done.
“I’m not convinced that human embryo stem-cell research is all that urgent.”
There are many aspects to Bush’s decision, such as limited funding to 60 stem-cell lines already in existence.
The issues lie with federal regulation and funding of the research.
Federal funding is important to regulation, Hubbard said.
Is it okay to use any embryos for research purposes?
Hubbard said, “It will be a long t
ime before there is any notion of whether there are any human benefits.”
Another issue Hubbard brought to attention is that it is not known where the 60 stem-cell lines are located.
Hubbard concluded her thoughts and said, “If it is okay to use the ones you destroyed yesterday, then why it it wrong to destroy the ones today and tomorrow.”
This brings up yet one more angle to the issue of embryonic stem-cell research.since the President’s meeting with the Pope has been brought to national attention.
The Vatican said it was resolutely opposed to the use of embryos for any scientific research, regardless of how or why the embryos were created.
The Catholic Church does not oppose all stem-cell research. They oppose embryonic stem-cell research, the Diocese of Salt Lake City said.
“President Bush has reaffirmed his support for a ban on human cloning and other policies that deserve support in their own right. However, the trade-off he has announced is morally unacceptable,” Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said.
The decision made on August 9, may prove promising, or may not.
There is no telling where the future lies with what is only the beginning of embryonic stem-cell research.