Q4. Describe the possible ethical risks associated with the various types of Stem cells in biological research
a) Somatic Stem cells
b) Embryonic Stem cells
c) Induced pluripotent stem
d) Therapeutic cloning
a) Somatic stem cells: One ethical risk associated with somatic stem cells is the potential harm or risk to the donor. Somatic stem cells are typically obtained from adult tissues, and their extraction can involve invasive procedures such as bone marrow aspiration or liposuction. These procedures may carry risks and discomfort for the donor. Additionally, there is a concern about informed consent and the possibility of coercion or undue influence on the donor to provide their cells for research.
b) Embryonic stem cells: The use of embryonic stem cells raises significant ethical concerns. The primary ethical issue revolves around the destruction of human embryos from which the stem cells are derived. This is often seen as the destruction of a potential life and raises questions about the moral status of the embryo. Many religious and philosophical perspectives consider the embryo to have moral worth and the use of embryonic stem cells as ethically objectionable.
c) Induced pluripotent stem cells: One potential ethical risk associated with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is the use of genetic manipulation to reprogram adult cells into a pluripotent state. There may be concerns about the safety and long-term effects of this genetic manipulation. Furthermore, iPSCs, like embryonic stem cells, have the potential to form teratomas, which are tumors consisting of a mixture of cell types. The use of iPSCs for research also raises issues of informed consent and the protection of donor privacy.
d) Therapeutic cloning: The ethical risks associated with therapeutic cloning (also known as somatic cell nuclear transfer) primarily relate to the creation and destruction of embryos for research purposes. In therapeutic cloning, an embryo is created through nuclear transfer and then destroyed to harvest its embryonic stem cells. This destruction of embryos raises ethical concerns, similar to those associated with the use of embryonic stem cells. Additionally, there may be concerns about the possibility of reproductive cloning if the techniques used for therapeutic cloning are misused or not properly regulated.