What is controversial about stem cell research - are
By Hannah Sparks. April 16, pm Updated April 16, pm. Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California have conducted a controversial experiment that entails growing human stem cells within a macaque monkey embryo. As a result of their work, the researchers hope they can learn more about human development, disease progression and drug therapies, and eventually, nurture entire human organs into life, making organ transplants via brain-dead donors an obsolete procedure. Currently, there are over , patients on the waiting list for organs, 17 of whom die each day waiting for a life-saving transplant, according to the US Health Resources and Services Administration. In the lab, these embryos are called monkey-human chimeras, and created in a petri dish — in other words, in vitro fertilization IVF. The embryos were monitored during a day period and have since been destroyed. Such research is inherently and unavoidably problematic, according to Dr. Read Next. what is controversial about stem cell researchScientists use different models to study human disease when it would be too early or ethically problematic to run experiments in humans.
Pros And Cons Of Stem Cell Research
Those models aim to mimic human biology as closely as possible to allow more accurate results. The development, published in Cell, offers a new tool for conducting medical research and discovering therapeutics, the researchers said. It could provide fresh insights into early human development, researc onset and progression and aging as well as lay the groundwork for new models of human biology for drug experiments. It could also address the need for transplantable organs, the researchers suggested.
For the current studies, the researchers used cells called human extended pluripotent stem hEPS cells from an induced pluripotent stem cell line, which was made by reprogramming mature skin or blood cells into a stem-cell-like state.
Pros And Cons: The Point Of Stem Cell Research
The hEPS cells have the potential to contgoversial into both embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues. Some members of the team had successfully integrated such hEPS cells in mouse embryos in earlier experiments. This time, the researchers injected 25 hEPS cells labeled with a fluorescent protein into macaque embryos. After one day, human cells were detected in embryos.
Story Timeline
Thanks to a recent technical advance, the researchers aboout able to grow the embryos over a long period of time. After 10 days, of the chimeric embryos were still developing. Although cell survival sharply declined after that, three chimeras were still left by Day More importantly, the human stem cells survived and integrated with the monkey embryos more effectively than human cells integrated with pig embryos in previous experiments, the scientists found.
The researchers then analyzed RNAs from both the human and monkey cells in the chimeric embryos to determine how they transcribed DNA. They found several communication pathways that were novel or strengthened in the chimeric cells compared with human or monkey controls. The researchers hypothesized that modulating these pathways in hPSCs or cultured embryos may improve the efficiency of chimeric integration.
Related Storyboards
With such insights, researchers could obtain an unprecedented glimpse into the early stages of human development, the researchers suggested. Chimeric organisms with human cells could be used to generate cells and organs for transplantations.
They could also offer unique insights into aging, allowing scientists to investigate how different organs perform during aging and what signals are involved in their survival, the team said. Chimeras bearing human cells could also potentially serve as excellent models of human disease for which to test drug candidates, the researchers added. Despite the potential benefits to advancing biomedical research, human-monkey controversil chimeras raises ethical questions, two bioethics experts from Stanford University and Duke University said in a preview piece accompanying the study. The Salk-led team specified that their study followed existing rules and standards and that their protocol was approved by several bioethicists.]
I consider, that you are not right. I can defend the position. Write to me in PM.
Quite right! It is good idea. I support you.