Looking Forward: Ethical Stem Cell Research

by Dawn Vargo

As stem cell research continues to be an issue debated in the public square, scientists are discovering ethical alternatives through the use of adult cells.

The longer scientists conduct research using non-embryonic sources, the more useful information they discover.  As a result, new ethical options – like the ability to "reprogram" adult cells to behave like embryonic stem cells – are coming to the surface.    In the summer of 2007, this was successfully accomplished in mice.  Then in late 2007, two different groups of researchers — in Wisconsin and Japan — achieved similar success with human cells. 

This new research uses ordinary adult body cells – like skin cells – and with some added growth factors, prompts them to become embryonic-like stem cells.  These induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) have the flexibility (pluripotency) of embryonic stem cells without the moral problems of destroying human life. 

The practical problems that exist with ESCR (immune rejection, etc) may still exist with these cells.  Nevertheless, this is a huge breakthrough and a new starting point for more research.  Now we can get cells that are virtually identical to embryonic stem cells without the moral problems involved with destroying embryos. 

You would think scientists would be excited to have the long-heralded cells they’ve been talking about without destroying embryos.  And, to some degree, they are.

The discovery of this new technique has led to a surprising shift in tone among researchers who have been strong advocates for ESC.  Remember Ian Wilmut?  He was the first scientist to clone a mammal, Dolly the Sheep.  His work led scientists to believe they would be able to successfully clone humans – and then destroy those young embryos for their embryonic stem cells.  This belief has led scientists to spend years unsuccessfully attempting to clone embryos for their stem cells.  Wilmut himself spent years in Great Britain lobbying for a license to clone human embryos.  In 2008, the British government finally granted him a license – only for Wilmut to move on to more promising research.  He abandoned the long-awaited cloning license and turned his effort to pursuing reprogramming adult cells. 

Other scientists are also changing directions.  And while we hope that all scientists might one day abandon misguided and unethical ESCR attempts, for now we can be content that science is ultimately leading some down a more ethical route.

So what do we make of all this? 

The status of stem cell research is clear.  Morally problematic, life destroying embryonic stem cell research is losing ground as a viable option for research and treating disease. 

In stark contrast to the failures of ESCR, ethically and scientifically sound non-embryonic stem cell research is providing real therapies.  And basic research with adult cells continues to show promise for even more ways to obtain new, ethical, and useful stem cells.

As research continues to move forward, we expect that scientists will continue to discover ethical ways to research and treat patients suffering from life-altering diseases.

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