Is Stem Cell Research Ethical?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

Stem cell research is a field of immense promise and profound ethical challenges. While alternative methods and stringent oversight can mitigate some ethical concerns, the debate over the moral status of embryos and the broader implications of this research will likely continue. It is essential to navigate these ethical waters carefully, ensuring that scientific progress does not come at the expense of moral integrity.

By addressing these ethical issues head-on and fostering open dialogue, the scientific community can work towards conducting stem cell research in a manner that is both scientifically and ethically sound.

Stem cell research has been a beacon of hope for many, promising breakthroughs in understanding human development and potential treatments for debilitating diseases. However, it is also a field fraught with ethical dilemmas and controversies. This article explores the ethical considerations surrounding stem cell research, drawing on various perspectives and findings from recent studies.

The Promise of Stem Cell Research

Stem cell research holds immense potential for medical science. It offers insights into the mechanisms of human development and differentiation and the possibility of treating diseases such as diabetes, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, and myocardial infarction2. The ability to reprogram somatic cells to produce induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has further expanded the horizons of this research, potentially bypassing some of the ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cells2.

Ethical Controversies

Use of Human Embryos

The primary ethical controversy in stem cell research revolves around the use and destruction of human embryos to derive stem cells or create human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines. This practice is considered morally problematic by many, as it involves the destruction of potential human life1 4. The debate often intersects with broader discussions on the onset of human personhood and the moral status of embryos2 5.

Alternative Methods

In response to these ethical concerns, researchers have been exploring alternative methods to obtain pluripotent stem cells without destroying embryos. One such method is Altered Nuclear Transfer (ANT), which involves modifying the somatic cell nucleus or egg cytoplasm before nuclear transfer, thus preventing the creation of a viable embryo while still producing pluripotent stem cells6. This approach could potentially mitigate some ethical issues, although it is still under development and scrutiny.

Informed Consent and Donor Safety

Another significant ethical issue is the informed consent of donors. The process of oocyte harvesting, essential for creating hESCs, raises concerns about the safety and autonomy of donors4. Ensuring that donors fully understand the risks and implications of their participation is crucial. Additionally, the commercialization of stem cell research and the potential exploitation of donors and recipients pose further ethical challenges4 7.

Oversight and Regulation

Given the ethical complexities, many jurisdictions have established specific legislation, ethical guidelines, and oversight bodies to govern stem cell research. These measures aim to ensure that research is conducted ethically and responsibly, balancing scientific progress with moral considerations1 8. Internationally, there is a consensus on the need for heightened ethics reviews and additional oversight for stem cell research1.

Broader Ethical Implications

Beyond the immediate ethical issues, stem cell research also has broader social and ethical implications. These include the potential commodification of human cells and tissues, the creation of human-animal chimeras, and the impact on social structures and moral values9 10. Recognizing both the hard and soft impacts of stem cell research can help steer it in a socially desirable direction9.

Is stem cell research ethical?

Philippa Harding has answered Near Certain

An expert from University College London in Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Stem Cells

All scientific research in the UK must comply to a broad range of regulations and principles which govern research. Before any research can done on human tissue, ethical approval is required from a Research Ethics Committee (REC). To create appropriate regulations, there must be discussion between scientists, politicians and the general public to reach a consensus on what experiments people believe are ethical to perform.

Concerns around stem cell research include destruction of embryos, informed consent for cell donors, regulations of potential applications and commercialisation of stem cells. However, stem cells provide a valuable tool for modelling diseases in the lab and testing new drugs, which may reduce requirements of animal testing, and provide better data about which drugs will be successful for treating diseases before entering a clinical trials. There are also arguments surrounding sciences responsibility to provide treatments for diseases where none currently exist. Therefore, debate around this topic is important to ensure appropriate legislation is enacted and followed by scientists.

Is stem cell research ethical?

Szu-Hsien (Sam) Wu has answered Likely

An expert from Institute of Molecular Biotechnology in Stem Cells, Genetic Engineering, Microscopy

Stem cell research comes in different flavours, some work with animals/ in vivo models (eg. fish, amphibians, rodents, non-human primates), others work with in vitro/ in-a-dish models (eg. cell culture, organoids, organ-on-chip).

Every research project should have a valid justification for the chosen model(s) and cover the ethical guidelines for the work (eg. animal usage justification, consents for patient(-derived) materials)!

Is stem cell research ethical?

Michael Telias has answered Near Certain

An expert from University of California, Berkeley in Neuroscience, Stem Cells, Vision Sciences

Yes, every research is ethical if it follows the ethical guidelines approved by the institution conducting the research, which instead are subjected to the laws of the country.

Human embryonic stem cells are collected from spare in-vitro fertilization embryos, that were produced in-vitro for a couple but were never used for pregnancy. When the couple has too many embryos produced in the lab, they will never use them all. The spare embryos, which are frozen in liquid nitrogen, can the be donated by the couple for research. These embryos are in the blastocyst stage and are basically a lump of a few cells. There is no ethical concern here as the embryos are donated by the parents under consent and they were never part of a pregnancy.

Induced pluripotent stem cells are created by genetic manipulation of adult cells taken by biopsy from the skin of a volunteer or patient. The volunteer/patient gives their consent, and a small skin biopsy which does not hurt and does not cause irreparable damage is taken. From those skin cells, a special type of stem cell can be generated in the lab called induced pluripotent stem cell.

Adult stem cells are extracted from the bone-marrow or other tissues in an adult consenting patient or volunteer, for treatment or research. Here too, the procedure does not endanger the health of the individual and is conducted under consent.

Is stem cell research ethical?

Karl Willert has answered Likely

An expert from University of California, San Diego in Stem Cells, Developmental Biology, Cell Biology

Yes. One area of stem cell research that has been scrutinized extensively over the past 2 decades (less so in recent years due to advances in the field) is embryonic stem cell research. These cells are derived from pre-implantation embryos that were produced in in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics for the purpose of helping a woman have a child. Since this process is not always 100% effective, clinics generally harvest and fertilize multiple eggs and store the “excess” embryos until the person(s) undergoing the IVF procedure no longer intends to carry them to term. At that point, they can chose to have them maintained in cryo-preservation, discarded, or, under informed consent, donated to research. The whole ethical debate arose because these donated embryos are destroyed upon derivation of embryonic stem cell lines. If a person views a fertilized egg in a dish as having the same moral standing as a human being, then derivation of stem cell lines and the consequent destruction of the embryo would be murder. I whole heartedly disagree. The question of when human life begins is complex, and I certainly do not view a fertilized egg in a dish as having the same moral standing as a human being….

One of the greatest misconceptions among the public is that embryonic stem cells are obtained from aborted fetuses. This is false. All human embryonic stem cell lines have been derived from pre-implantation embryos generated by in vitro fertilization in a dish.

Is stem cell research ethical?

Abigail Isaacson has answered Likely

An expert from King’s College London in Developmental Biology

We can obtain stem cells during development of an embryo or from an adult. With humans, we can extract these stem cells from bone marrow, or even derive them from skin or blood cells with donor consent. Use of these cells poses no ethical objections provided relevant ethical laws are adhered to. Human embryonic stem cells are stem cells obtained from the inside of a human blastocyst, which is a structure formed during the very early stages of embryonic development and consists of fewer than 300 cells. The argument for and against the use of these cells for research purposes centres around the necessary destruction of the human embryo for their extraction. As was phrased very well in a recent review article: “Since the start point of personhood is an unfalsifiable concept, there is arguably no right to attempt a trade-off between the moral standing of the unborn with its potential regenerative benefits.” Therefore, any attempts to resolve this ethical conflict, even by drawing upon the potential benefits of these stem cells for mankind, appear to be futile. Having said that, the (relatively) recent discovery of “human induced pluripotent stem cells” – whose use obviates the need for the destruction of human embryos – has resulted in a marked shift towards the use of other types of stem cell in research and presents a way in which ethical dilemmas can be circumvented. 

Review reference: Poulos Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2018) 9:1

Is stem cell research ethical?

Christian Drapeau has answered Near Certain

An expert from Kalyagen in Stem Cells

Almost any type of medical research can be carried in an unethical or ethical way, so it is not so much about the topic of stem cell research itself but rather the entity or group involved in the research. There is no question that stem cell research and the clinical application of stem cells can be done in an ethical manner, as it is currently done in numerous clinics and research centers worldwide.