Dilemas of Stem Cells

• What do stem cells offer a way of treating?

  Many different diseases caused by damaged cells
• What is stem cell research being carried out into in the UK?

  Potential therapies to treat various conditions
• What conditions are potential therapies being developed for using stem cell research in the UK?

  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Diabetes
  • Heart Damage
  • Blindness
  • Joint Damage
• What are the sources of embryonic stem cells?

  • Aborted embryos
  • Spare embryos from fertility treatment
  • Created purely for research (allowed by British Law)
• What can stem cells found in human embryos be cloned and made to do?

  Differentiate into many types of human cells
• What is a primary risk associated with embryonic stem cells?

  They divide rapidly and can cause cancer
• What are the sources of adult stem cells?

  • Bone Marrow
  • Blood
• What types of cells can stem cells found in adult bone marrow form?

  Many types of cells such as RBC
• How do adult stem cells differ from embryonic stem cells in terms of cell type production?

  Adult stem cells don't form as many cell types
• What is a risk if adult stem cells are taken from one adult and given to another?

  Risk of transfer of infection
• What is another risk of stem cells taken from another adult?

  They can be rejected by the patient's immune system
• What are scientists using stem cells for in relation to diabetes?

  To grow cells sensitive to blood sugar levels and produce insulin
• Where have scientists found stem cells besides bone marrow and blood?

  The umbilical cord blood
• What are the advantages of collecting and storing stem cells from the umbilical cord blood?

  Safe to collect and store
• What is the sole purpose of therapeutic cloning?

  To produce stem cells with the same genes
• Why would stem cells created through therapeutic cloning not be rejected?

  Because they possess the same genes
• What do scientists do during therapeutic cloning?

  Harvest stem cells before disposing of the embryo
• What is the current status of therapeutic cloning?

  Ongoing area of research and not in medical use
• What are the advantages of stem cell therapy?

  • Can grow into many different kinds of body cells
  • May be used to treat some human diseases
  • A cheaper alternative to standard medication
  • Can be used to treat conditions such as paralysis
• What are the disadvantages of stem cell therapy?

  • Raises concerns due to ethical issues
  • Useless in situations where the body can't recover damaged tissue itself
  • Collecting and growing stem cells is expensive
  • Patients treated with stem cells may need to take drugs for the rest of their life to prevent rejection