Q4. Describe the possible ethical risks associated with the various types of Stem cells in biological research
a) Somatic Stem cells
b) Embyonic Stem cells
c) Induced pluripotent stem
d) Therapeutic cloning
a) Somatic Stem cells: One potential ethical risk associated with somatic stem cells is the issue of consent and ownership. Because somatic stem cells are taken from the patient's own body, there may be concerns about who has the right to use and profit from these cells. Additionally, there may be questions about the risks and benefits of using somatic stem cells for research and therapy, particularly if there is uncertainty about their long-term effects on the patient's health.
b) Embryonic Stem cells: Ethical concerns surrounding embryonic stem cells primarily revolve around the destruction of human embryos in the process of harvesting these cells. This raises serious questions about the sanctity of human life and when personhood begins. There are also concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable populations, such as women who donate their eggs for research purposes.
c) Induced pluripotent stem cells: The primary ethical risk associated with induced pluripotent stem cells is the potential for unintended genetic mutations or changes that may occur during the reprogramming process. There may also be concerns about the long-term safety and efficacy of using induced pluripotent stem cells in clinical applications, as they are a relatively new and still evolving technology.
d) Therapeutic cloning: The major ethical issue with therapeutic cloning is the creation and destruction of human embryos for the purpose of generating stem cells for research or therapy. This raises similar concerns to embryonic stem cell research in terms of the destruction of human life and the moral status of the embryo. There are also concerns about the potential for misuse or abuse of this technology, such as the creation of designer babies or the commodification of human life.