Running head: THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE 1

The Role of Stem Cell in Geneti! and Medi!ine

"ian!a Ha#old
"a$ide High S!hool

THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
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A&t#a!t
In thi 'a'e#( I )ill )#ite a&out the #ole of tem !ell in geneti! and medi!ine* The 'a'e# )ill
mention ho) tem !ell e+it th#oughout the &od$* In the 'a'e#( I )ill define tem !ell a !ell
)ithout a 'e!ifi! fun!tion in the &od$ &ut !an '#odu!e man$ 'e!iali,ed !ell( u!h a hea#t o#
mu!le !ell* I )ill mention the #egene#ati-e a&ilitie of tem !ell* I )ill alo add#e the
!ont#o-e#$ of tem !ell #eea#!h a )ell a the 'e#'e!ti-e of ome ide* I )ill in!lude 'oi&le
ue of tem !ell in the futu#e a )ell a the !u##ent ue of tem !ell in the medi!al '#a!ti!e*
O-e#all( I )ill mention )hat a tem !ell i( )hat it !an do and )ill do( and the 'a'e# )ill in!lude
the -a#iou o'inion of tem !ell*
Keywords: stem cell, genetics, medicine, controversy, uses, in, future, current, uses
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
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THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
Imagine a )o#ld )he#e the#e i no illne o# dieae/ a )o#ld )he#e an am'utation of the leg
!ould eail$ &e 'e#fe!tl$ #eto#ed/ a )o#ld )he#e 'eo'le )ho died &efo#e thei# time &e!aue of a
&odil$ ailment )a ali-e/ a uto'ia &e!aue of an e+!e'tional t$'e of !ell !alled a tem !ell* Stem
!ell e+it th#oughout the &od$* Stem !ell a#e !ell )ithout a 'e!ifi! fun!tion in the &od$ &ut
!an '#odu!e man$ 'e!iali,ed !ell( u!h a hea#t o# mu!le !ell* "e!aue of thei# e+!e'tional
#egene#ation a&ilitie( tem !ell ha-e &een #eea#!hed &$ !ientit in ho'e of !u#ing ailment
and in0u#ie that ha-e 'lagued human* "ut all thing !ome )ith a '#i!e/ man$ 'eo'le ha-e a
fie#!e o'inion on the #eea#!h of tem !ell and )ant it di!ontinuation* De'ite the negati-it$
tem !ell #e!ei-e( tem !ell ma$ &e the an)e# to mot dieae and in0u#ie* Stem !ell a#e
-e#$ hel'ful in geneti! and medi!ine &e!aue of thei# #ema#1a&le #egene#ation a&ilitie( and(
although the$ ha-e mi+ed 'e#'e!ti-e( tem !ell ha-e a -e#$ '#omiing futu#e*
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
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THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
Stem !ell a#e !ell )ithout a 'e!ial fun!tion &ut !an '#odu!e othe# !ell that do ha-e a 'e!ial
fun!tion* A!!o#ding to C#ota( 3* 4%556( Se'tem&e#7( 8Stem !ell a#e a !la of
undiffe#entiated !ell that a#e a&le to diffe#entiate into 'e!iali,ed !ell t$'e*9 "ai#d( Ste'hen
4%556( Ma$ 517 had aid( 8All tem !ell( #ega#dle of thei# ou#!e( ha-e th#ee gene#al
'#o'e#tie: the$ a#e !a'a&le of di-iding and #ene)ing themel-e fo# long 'e#iod/ the$ a#e
un'e!iali,ed/ and the$ !an !hooe to &e!ome one of man$ diffe#ent t$'e of !ell '#eent in
the &od$ &aed on ignal 4inte#nal o# e+te#nal fa!to# that !ont#ol !hange in !ell t#u!tu#e
and fun!tion7 f#om thei# en-i#onment*9
Co+( C* 4n*d*7 had de!#i&ed tem !ell a( 8The mot &ai! definition i that it i a !ell that !an
di-ide to gi-e &oth anothe# tem !ell and a mo#e 'e!iali,ed !ell* It !an &e toti'otent 4a&le to
fo#m an enti#e o#ganim7( 'lu#i'otent 4a&le to de-elo' into mot tiue of an o#ganim7 o#
multi'otent 4'e!iali,ed fo# 'e!ifi! tiue( u!h a &lood( 1in( et!*7* The th#ee t$'e a#e
found at diffe#ent tage of an o#ganim: de-elo'ment and in diffe#ent 'la!e in the &od$*9
4Ga-aghan( Helen %551( ;anua#$ 517* 8Not all tem !ell !ome f#om an ea#l$ em&#$o* In
fa!t( )e ha-e tem !ell in ou# &odie all ou# li-e* One )a$ to thin1 a&out tem !ell i to
di-ide them into th#ee !atego#ie:
1* Em&#$oni! tem !ell: g#o)n in the la&o#ato#$ f#om !ell found in the ea#l$ em&#$o
%* Tiue tem !ell: found in ou# &odie all ou# li-e
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
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.* Indu!ed 'lu#i'otent tem !ell( o# =#e'#og#ammed> tem !ell: imila# to em&#$oni! tem
!ell &ut made f#om adult 'e!ialied !ell uing a la&o#ato#$ te!hni?ue di!o-e#ed in %55@*9
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
Stem !ell 'la$ an im'o#tant #ole in the de-elo'ment of an em&#$o and th#oughout the matu#e
tage of life* A!!o#ding to Stem Cell in the S'otlight 4%55@( No-em&e# %67 #ega#ding the
de-elo'ment of an em&#$o &e!aue of tem !ell( 8A fe) )ee1 late#( the !ell of the oute# la$e#
4o# e!tode#m7 ha-e &e!ome 1in( ne#-ou $tem( and 'a#t of the fa!e and ne!1* The middle
la$e# 4o# meode#m7 ha &e!ome mu!le( &lood( &lood -eel( and the &eginning of &one and
!onne!ti-e tiue* The inne# la$e# 4o# endode#m7 ha &egun to fo#m the digeti-e and #e'i#ato#$
t#a!t and the gland that feed into them( in!luding the 'an!#ea and the li-e#*9
Stem Cell in the S'otlight 4%55@( No-em&e# %67 had e+'lained the #ole of tem !ell in adult
&odie( 8A )e g#o) f#om fe#tili,ed egg into full$ fo#med human &eing( tem !ell gi-e #ie to
all of ou# diffe#entiated tiue and o#gan* Stem !ell !ontinue to 'la$ an im'o#tant #ole
th#oughout ou# li-e a the$ hel' to heal and maintain ou# &odie*9 A!!o#ding to Stem Cell in
the S'otlight 4%55@( No-em&e# %67 #efe##ing to adult tem !ell in the &od$( 8Some tem !ell it
?uietl$( )aiting fo# a ignal to tell then to di-ide( othe# a#e !ontantl$ at )o#1( #e'la!ing !ell
that a#e lot th#ough dail$ )ea# and tea#*9
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
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THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
3eo'le a#ound the )o#ld ha-e o''oing thought a&out the #eea#!h of em&#$oni! tem !ell
&e!aue the #eea#!h in-ol-e the det#u!tion of em&#$o* 8The main !#iti?ue of thi #eea#!h i
that it #e?ui#ed the det#u!tion of a human &lato!$t* That i( a fe#tili,ed egg )a not gi-en the
!han!e to de-elo' into a full$Ade-elo'ed human*9 aid &$ C#ota( 3* 4%556( Se'tem&e#7*
A!!o#ding to Beiman( L( I* 4%55%( Ma$ 1@7 #ega#ding the 'oi&ilit$ of human !loning( 8The
ne) ?uetion of )hethe# to 'e#mit nu!lea# t#an'lantation fo# the '#odu!tion of human
em&#$oni! temA!ell line of defined genot$'e no) fa!e Cong#e( tate legilatu#e( and the
e+e!uti-e &#an!h( )hi!h i ad-ied &$ the #e!entl$ a''ointed 3#eident: Coun!il on "ioethi!*
The de&ate ha &een !om'li!ated &$ the fea# that nu!lea# t#an'lantation into enu!leated egg
might &e ued to !lone a human &eing* Thi 'at $ea#( t)o 'anel a''ointed &$ the National
A!ademie 'u&lihed #e'o#t on thee ?uetion* One of thee #e'o#t( CStem Cell and the
Futu#e of Regene#ati-e Medi!ine(C in!lude the deli&e#ation and tetimon$ of !ientit(
'h$i!ian( ethi!it( and thoe )ho( fo# #eligiou #eaon( mo#al #eaon( o# &oth( o''oe
#eea#!h in-ol-ing human em&#$oni! tem !ell*1D The main #e!ommendation in that #e'o#t a#e
to allo) the !ontinuation of #eea#!h on &oth adult and em&#$oni! human tem !ell/ to 'e#mit
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
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the e+'anion of the num&e# of em&#$oni! temA!ell line fo# #eea#!h 'u#'oe/ and to
en!ou#age #eea#!h into )a$ of '#e-enting the immune #e0e!tion of tem !ell and tiue
de#i-ed f#om them( in!luding thoe o&tained th#ough the#a'euti! !loning*1D The e!ond 'anel
!onide#ed the !ientifi!( medi!al( and ethi!al a'e!t of #e'#odu!ti-e !loning and nu!lea#
t#an'lantation fo# the '#odu!tion of 'lu#i'otent human temA
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
!ell line*16 It did not fo!u on mo#al iue* The intention of the #e'o#t( CS!ientifi! and Medi!al
A'e!t of Human Re'#odu!ti-e Cloning(C )a to '#o-ide info#mation to &#oad egment of
o!iet$( in!luding go-e#nment and '#i-ate agen!ie* The 'anel #e!ommended the '#ohi&ition of
human #e'#odu!ti-e !loning and uggeted ena!ting a legall$ enfo#!ea&le &an on the '#o!edu#e
and !heduling a #e-ie) of thi #e!ommendation )ithin fi-e $ea#* It !on!luded that the
!ientifi! and medi!al !onide#ation that 0utif$ a &an on human #e'#odu!ti-e !loning )e#e not
a''li!a&le to nu!lea# t#an'lantation fo# the '#odu!tion of tem !ell* The legall$ enfo#!ea&le &an
)ould '#ote!t againt #ogue g#ou' that ought to im'lant inte#media#$ &lato!$t fo#
#e'#odu!ti-e !loning* The 'anel alo en!ou#aged a &#oad national dialogue on the o!ietal(
#eligiou( and ethi!al ?uetion #aied &$ the ne) te!hnolog$*169 4Beiman( L( I*( %55%( Ma$
1@7*
A!!o#ding to "lendon( R*( Eim( M*( "enon( ;* 4%511( No-em&e# 1D7(8Eu#o'ean and Ame#i!an
Attitude a&out Fo#&idding Reea#!h In-ol-ing Human Em&#$o( E-en if It Mean That 3oi&le
T#eatment A#e Not Made A-aila&le to Ill 3eo'le*
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
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Among the .2 !ount#ie )e e+amined( thoe )he#e the la#get '#o'o#tion of #eident a$ that
u!h #eea#!h
hould not &e fo#&idden a#e I!eland 4D1F7( No#)a$ 4@GF7( S)eden 4@DF7( and "#itain 4@<F7* In
fou# !ount#ie( the ma0o#it$ of the 'u&li! &elie-e that u!h #eea#!h hould &e fo#&idden: Aut#ia
4@5F7( Lu+em&ou#g 4<2F7( G#ee!e 4<2F7( and Slo-enia 4<2F7* In fou# othe# !ount#ie
4Ge#man$( Slo-a1ia( Lat-ia( and Tu#1e$7 a 'lu#alit$ )e#e of thi ame o'inion 4HS3H %511/
Eu#o&a#omete# %5157* Alo a!!o#ding to "lendon( R*( Eim( M*( "enon( ;* 4%511( No-em&e# 1D7(
8Attitude of Eu#o'ean and Ame#i!an( A!!o#ding to Thei# Religioit$( a&out Fo#&idding
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
Reea#!h In-ol-ing Human Em&#$o( E-en if It Mean That 3oi&le T#eatment A#e Not Made
A-aila&le to Ill 3eo'le*
)e e+amine the #ole of #eligioit$ )ith #ega#d to thi iue* In &oth the Hnited State and
Eu#o'e a a )hole( 'eo'le )ith the leat #eligiou in-ol-ement a#e le li1el$ than thei#
!om'at#iot to &elie-e that em&#$oni! temA!ell #eea#!h hould &e fo#&idden* Thoe )ho a#e
mo#e in-ol-ed #eligioul$ a#e mo#e li1el$ to u''o#t #et#i!tion* In the Hnited State( the
'#o'o#tion of 'eo'le )ho &elie-e u!h #eea#!h hould &e fo#&idden #ie f#om 16F among thoe
)ho a$ the$ ha-e Cno #eligionC o# attend #eligiou e#-i!e le than on!e a $ea# o# ne-e# to
25F among thoe )ho a$ the$ attend #eligiou e#-i!e )ee1l$ o# mo#e f#e?uentl$
4HS3H %511/ Eu#o&a#omete# %5157* Thi finding i im'o#tant fo# the Hnited State &e!aue
Re'u&li!an 4#ange( 22 to 2DF7 a#e mo#e li1el$ than Demo!#at 4#ange( .% to .@F7 to a$ the$
attend #eligiou e#-i!e at leat )ee1l$ 43e) Reea#!h Cente# %515/ HS3H %5117* In addition(
thoe )ho attend #eligiou e#-i!e #egula#l$ a#e mo#e li1el$ to -ote fo# Re'u&li!an !andidate
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
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than fo# Demo!#ati! !andidate* Fo# intan!e( in the %515 !ong#eional ele!tion( <6F of
Ame#i!an )ho aid the$ attended #eligiou e#-i!e at leat )ee1l$ -oted fo# Re'u&li!an
!andidate( )he#ea 25F -oted fo# Demo!#ati! !andidate 4Edion %5157*9 4"lendon( R*( Eim(
M*( "enon( ;*( %511( No-em&e# 1D7*
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
Stem !ell 'la$ a ma0o# and de-elo'ing #ole in medi!ine: toda$ the$ a#e ued in e-e#al
the#a'ie( and !ientit a#e t#$ing to in-ent mo#e the#a'ie* A!!o#ding to the Ame#i!an Medi!al
Ao!iation* 4n*d*7( 8 Adult tem !ell t#an'lant: &one ma##o) tem !ell
Stem !ell te!hnolog$ ha &een ued fo# mo#e than %5 $ea# in &one ma##o) t#an'lant( )he#e
the 'atient: &one ma##o) tem !ell a#e #e'la!ed )ith thoe f#om a health$( mat!hing dono#* If
the t#an'lant i u!!eful( the tem !ell )ill mig#ate into the 'atient: &one ma##o) and &egin
'#odu!ing ne)( health$ leu1o!$te to #e'la!e the a&no#mal !ell*
Adult tem !ell t#an'lant: 'e#i'he#al &lood tem !ell 43"SC7
Bhile mot &lood tem !ell #eide in the &one ma##o)( a mall num&e# a#e '#eent in the
&loodt#eam* 3"SC !an &e o&tained f#om d#a)n Adult tem !ell t#an'lant: &one ma##o) tem
!ell
Stem !ell te!hnolog$ ha &een ued fo# mo#e than %5 $ea# in &one ma##o) t#an'lant( )he#e
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
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the 'atient: &one ma##o) tem !ell a#e #e'la!ed )ith thoe f#om a health$( mat!hing dono#* If
the t#an'lant i u!!eful( the tem !ell )ill mig#ate into the 'atient: &one ma##o) and &egin
'#odu!ing ne)( health$ leu1o!$te to #e'la!e the a&no#mal !ell*
Adult tem !ell t#an'lant: 'e#i'he#al &lood tem !ell 43"SC7
Bhile mot &lood tem !ell #eide in the &one ma##o)( a mall num&e# a#e '#eent in the
&loodt#eam* 3"SC !an &e o&tained f#om d#a)n&lood( ma1ing them eaie# to !olle!t than &one
ma##o) tem !ell* Ho)e-e#( 3"SC a#e 'a#e in the &loodt#eam( o !olle!ting enough to
'e#fo#m a t#an'lant !an 'oe a !hallenge*
Hm&ili!al !o#d &lood tem !ell t#an'lant
Hm&ili!al !o#d t#aditionall$ ha-e &een di!a#ded a a &$A'#odu!t of the &i#th '#o!e* In #e!ent
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
$ea#( ho)e-e#( the temA!ellA#i!h &lood found in the um&ili!al !o#d ha '#o-en ueful in t#eating
the ame t$'e of health '#o&lem a thoe t#eated uing &one ma##o) tem !ell and 3"SC*9
4Ame#i!an Medi!al Ao!iation( n*d*7*
A!!o#ding to Eu#o'e: tem !ell hu& I Eu#oStemCell* 4n*d*7( 8Some othe# a''li!ation of tem
!ell a#e &eing in-etigated in !lini!al t#ial( in!luding the ue of tem !ell to #egene#ate
damaged tiueA u!h a hea#t( 1in( &one( 'inal !o#d( li-e#( 'an!#ea and !o#neaA o# to t#eat
&lood o# olidAo#gan !an!e#*9 A!!o#ding to "ai#d( Ste'hen 4%556( Ma$ 517(8 On A'#il 2( %55@
the fi#t human #e!i'ient of la&o#ato#$g#o)n o#gan )e#e #e'o#ted &$ Anthon$ Atala( M*D*(
di#e!to# of the Intitute of Regene#ati-e Medi!ine at Ba1e Fo#et Hni-e#it$ S!hool of Medi!ine*
Atala de!#i&ed the longAte#m u!!e in !hild#en and teenage# )ho #e!ei-ed &ladde# g#o)n
f#om thei# o)n !ell*
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
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The '#o!e fo# g#o)ing ea!h 'atient: o#gan &egan )ith a &io'$ to get am'le of mu!le !ell
and the !ell that line the &ladde# )all* Thee !ell )e#e g#o)n in a !ultu#e in the la&o#ato#$
until the#e )e#e enough !ell to 'la!e onto a 'e!iall$ !ont#u!ted &iodeg#ada&le !affold ha'ed
li1e a &ladde#* The !ell !ontinued to g#o)* Then( e-en o# eight )ee1 afte# the &io'$( the
enginee#ed &ladde# )e#e utu#ed to the 'atient: o#iginal &ladde# du#ing u#ge#$* The !affold
)a deigned to deg#ade a the &ladde# tiue integ#ated )ith the &od$* Teting ho)ed that the
enginee#ed &ladde# fun!tioned a )ell a &ladde# that a#e #e'ai#ed )ith intetine tiue( &ut
)ith none of the ill effe!t*9
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
In the futu#e( !ientit '#edi!t( )ith fu#the# #eea#!h( that tem !ell )ill &e a&le to t#eat a -at
amount of in0u#ie and dieae* 8One 'otential a''li!ation i the gene#ation of diffe#ent t$'e of
neu#on fo# the t#eatment of A;,heime#: dieae( 'inal !o#d in0u#ie( o# 3a#1inon: dieae* The
'#odu!tion of hea#t mu!le !ell fo# hea#t atta!1 u#-i-o# ma$ alo &e 'oi&le* The gene#ation
of inulinA'#odu!ing !ell fo# the t#eatment of dia&ete( and e-en the gene#ation of hai# folli!le
tem !ell fo# the t#eatment of !e#tain t$'e of &aldne might &e a!hie-ed* Stem !ell !ould alo
&e ueful fo# a num&e# of tiue enginee#ing a''li!ation u!h a the '#odu!tion of !om'lete
o#gan in!luding li-e#( 1idne$( e$e( hea#t( o# e-en 'a#t of the &#ain*9 aid &$ "ai#d( Ste'hen
4%556( Ma$ 517* A!!o#ding to C#ota( 3* 4%556( Se'tem&e#7 )hen add#eing the futu#e of tem
!ell aid( 8The#efo#e( tem !ell e+t#a!ted f#om em&#$o !an &e indu!ed to &e!ome an$ dei#ed
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
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!ell t$'e* Thi '#o'e#t$ ma1e tem !ell 'o)e#ful enough to #egene#ate damaged tiue unde#
the #ight !ondition*9
Ga-aghan( Helen 4%551( ;anua#$ 517 had aid(8Fu#the# 'otential a''li!ation a#e in the 'i'eline*
Reea#!he# in &oth Je!o-i: la&o#ato#$ and M!Ea$:( fo# e+am'le( !an !oa+ fetal
&#ain tem !ell into ma1ing do'amineA'#odu!ing neu#on )hi!h might &e ued to t#eat 'atient
)ith 3a#1inon dieae*9 4Ga-aghan( Helen( %551( ;anua#$ 517* 8Though u!h )o#1 1ee' ali-e
the e+!itement o-e# the 'otential of human em&#$oni! tem !ell( inte#et in adult tem!ell i
alo mounting* Reea#!he# ha-e di!o-e#ed that tem !ell ao!iated )ith 'e!ifi! tiue t$'e(
a$ &#ain( !an &e C#e'#og#ammedC to ma1e mu!le* Thi o'en the 'oi&ilit$ AA till ditant AA
that one !ould ta1e tem !ell f#om one 'a#t of a 'atient: &od$ and #e'#og#amme them to
'#odu!e tiue g#aft fo# damaged o# degene#ating tiue ele)he#e( thu #edu!ing the #i1 of
#e0e!tion*9 aid &$ Ga-aghan( Helen 4%551( ;anua#$ 517*
THE ROLE OF STEM CELLS IN GENETICS AND MEDICINE
Hltimatel$( tem !ell a#e un'e!iali,ed !ell lo!ated in em&#$o and omati! tiue that th#ough
di-iion !an !#eate 'e!iali,ed !ell* Stem !ell initiall$ de-elo' the &od$( #e'ai# it( and aid it
fun!tioning* Stem !ell( e'e!iall$ em&#$oni! tem !ell( ha-e #e!ei-ed mu!h good and &ad
'otlight &e!aue of it #ema#1a&le a&ilit$ to '#odu!e othe# 'e!iali,ed !ell &ut at the !ot of
ending a 'oi&le human life* Stem !ell ha-e '#o-ided a &ig lea' in medi!ine and !ontinue to do
o )ith #eea#!h* I it 'oi&le that )ith tem !ell #eea#!h( all human ailment )ould &e!ome a
thing of the 'atK