Stem Cell Science Basics

Biotechnology and Society BIS 411 Monday and Wednesday 3:30-5:35 UW1-020 Class Number 6 January 23, 2006 CHEERS and Genome
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Question??
Who were the most influential people of the past century?
James Watson (L) and Francis Crick (R), and the model they built of the structure of DNA (and Rosalind Franklin).

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Topics

Stem Cells The Basics Cloning Therapeutic and Human The Politics State, National, International

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Stem Cell History

1998 - Researchers first extract stem cells from human embryos 1999 - First Successful human transplant of insulin-making cells from cadavers 2001 - President Bush restricts federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research 2002 - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International creates $20 million fund-raising effort to support stem-cell research 2002 - California ok stem cell research 2004 - Harvard researchers grow stem cells from embryos using private funding 2004 - Ballot measure for $3 Billion bond for stem cells

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Importance
Disease
Diabetes, Spinal cord injury, Parkinsons disease, heart disease

Genetic based Disease Cystic fibrosis, Huntingtons

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Stem Cell Characteristics

Blank cells (unspecialized) Capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods of time (proliferation and renewal)

Have the potential to give rise to specialized cell types (differentiation)

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Stem Cell Differentiation

Princeton University

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Sexual Reproduction

The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals

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Stem Cell Cultivation

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs)

Science and Politics of ESCs research
August 9, 2001 - President Bush restricted federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research to 70 lines thought to be in existence Only 11 now available and useable Many researchers calling for change
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Blastocyst Diagram

Princeton University

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Five Day Pre-Embryo

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/

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Human Clones?

Are there human clones? Yes Identical Twins

(Time 2.19.01)
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Cloning Defined
What is cloning? Asexual reproduction Examples? Bacteria, fungus Plants cutting potato Farm animals

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Asexual Reproduction

The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals

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Cloning Dolly

1997 - 2003
(Roslin Institute http://www.roslin.ac.uk/library/)
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Cloning A Sheep

(Roslin Institute http://www.roslin.ac.uk/library/)

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Human Stem Cell Production

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Removing Nucleus

Removing the maternal nucleus before nuclear transfer

(Roslin Institute http://www.roslin.ac.uk/library/)
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Nuclear transfer

Nuclear transfer embryo about to be activated

(Roslin Institute http://www.roslin.ac.uk/library/)
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Cloning for use in Stem Cells Cloning techniques for creating stem cells

Therapeutic cloning
Reproductive cloning
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IVF In Vitro Fertilization

Available since 1986 About 100,000 IVF kids in U.S. Often creates extra embryos U.S. - About 400,000 frozen embryos (unregulated) England 52,000 (regulated by government)
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What Americans Think

From Research!America http://www.researchamerica.org/
Taking Our Pulse: The PARADE/Research!America Health Poll Charlton Research Company, 2005 July 10, 2005
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U.S. Performance in Science and Math Education

Do you think the U.S. is performing well or performing poorly compared to other nations in terms of science and math education?

7% 11% 23%
Very well Somewhat well Somewhat Poorly

24% 35%

Very Poorly Don't know

Taking Our Pulse: The PARADE/Research!America Health Poll Charlton Research Company, 2005

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A Majority of Americans Favor Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Do you favor or oppose medical research using embryonic stem cells?

13% 34% 18%

Strongly favor Somewhat favor Somewhat oppose

58%

29%
Strongly oppose Don't know

11%

24%

Taking Our Pulse: The PARADE/Research!America Health Poll Charlton Research Company, 2005

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A Majority of Americans Favor Research Using Donated Eggs from Fertility Clinics
Scientists can extract embryonic stem cells from fertilized eggs that are voluntarily donated by fertility clinic patients. These fertilized eggs would otherwise be discarded. Knowing this, do you favor or oppose embryonic research?

7%

62%

Favor

Oppose

31%
Don't know

Taking Our Pulse: The PARADE/Research!America Health Poll Charlton Research Company, 2005

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A Majority of Americans Favor Cloning Technology to Make Embryonic Stem Cells

Scientists can now make embryonic stem cells for medical research by merging an unfertilized egg with a skin cell, for example. In other words, no fertilization takes place and there is no merger of egg and sperm. Knowing this, do you favor or oppose embryonic stem cell research?

9% 69% 22%
Favor Oppose Don't know

Taking Our Pulse: The PARADE/Research!America Health Poll Charlton Research Company, 2005

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Therapeutic Cloning Should Be Allowed

Therapeutic cloning is the use of cloning technology to help in the search for possible cures and treatments for diseases and disabilities. Do you think that research into therapeutic cloning should be allowed?

6%

59%

Yes No Don't know

35%
Taking Our Pulse: The PARADE/Research!America Health Poll Charlton Research Company, 2005

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WA State Legislation
WA State Stem Cell Bills
http://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/billinfo1/billsearch.cfm?Searchterm=stem%20cell

"Regulating stem cell research (passed House 59-36 on 3/15/05 and failed in the Senate 26-23 on 4/11/05) Forum on Science Ethics and Policy (FOSEP at UW)

http://www.fosep.org/
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State Legislation Key Points Informed Consent No reproductive Cloning IRB approval

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California Legislation

Law supports therapeutic cloning $3 Billion bond measure to support stem cell research - 2004

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National Regulation
2001 - President Bush restricts federal funding for embryonic stemcell research Federal funding only for existing stem cell lines Many consider inadequate

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National Legislation
House of Representatives passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 810) Senate is expected to consider it soon - corresponding bill (S.471) today!

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International Legislation
South Korea refined nuclear transfer or therapeutic cloning China supports research Singapore stem cell research a national priority Israel leaders stem cell disease Great Britain leader Dolly active support of research Japan supports research
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Stem Cells and Cloning

Questions or Comments?

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Stem Cell - References

Forum on Science Ethics and Policy (FOSEP at UW) http://www.fosep.org/

A Small Dose of Toxicology www.asmalldoseof.org

The bioscience-bioethics friendship Cooperative
http://www.bioscience-bioethics.org/portal.htm
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