At DCU today the graduate class presented and debated the usage of embryos and conduction of stem cell research from an ethical standpoint. So far this class has been my favorite because it is small and allows free discussion. Similar to Graham School curriculum which is funny because Donal designed it.
Basic Knowledge on Stem Cells:
ES (Embryonic Stem cells) can be used as a regenerative medicine and for tissue cells. ES can be extracted from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, which is the phase before coming a fetus. The ES cell from the blastocyst are pluripoten meaning that it creates many cell types (i.e. heart tissue, liver cells, etc). ES cells that are from the morula (phase before blastocyst) are totipotent meaning that it creates all cell types and even extra embryonic tissue. Obviously totipotent is better but coming from the morula is more risky.
Something that I was tricked by is the word 'adult stem cell'. The idea I had was a 30 year old man or woman or from 18 and up. Adult stem cell is a very broad term meaning from the fetus phase on up. Adult stem cells research is not conclusive yet but it is known that it can be used as a regenerative medicine. For right now I am not going to get into that.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of ES and stem cells in general. Religious and anti-abortion groups are mostly against the use of ES because it goes against their beliefs. For them, life begins at conception and to use the embryo is to take life away. Another point against the two groups embryos do not have to come from abortion clinics -they can be grown is a petri dish- nor do they have to come from humans. Stem cells can from umbilical cords. The animal/human hybrid stem cell can be grown in the lab as well. What surprised me was that coming to the U.K. is the Animal-Human Embryo Bill. U.K. is very liberal in the case of stem cell research. The U.S. government will not fund the stem cell research and no other embryos are aloud to legally be extracted/created. Only the remaining embryos that existed before the Bush regime are permitted to be used. The U.S. has 500,000 embryos which is not a lot. I am for ES and other stem cell research and the conduction because it can cure peoples terminal illnesses and disabilities.
2 comments:
wow heavy stuff, and very interesting. i can see how you would like this class, right up your alley. the bush 'regime' was a curious tag, knowing your politics somewhat i understand your use, i wonder how the irish classify his reign or administration?
rock on
evan
We talked a lot about this subject in my Monsters class (Frankenstein) last spring and in my poetry class. Chloe Teasley actually wrote this excellent poem on stem cell research. We were just discussing it in her blog. Interesting that you are both having similar topics crossover into what you are doing. She is at a vet clinic in VA though.
Post a Comment