Discuss the significance of iPS cells in stem cell research. Do you believe it would be better to use replace embryonic stem cells with iPS cells despite the success embryonic stem cells already have? What are the advantages or disadvantages? What problems do you think could occur with the usage of iPS cells? And how do you think we can solve these problems? What do you think about the possibility of clones with iPS cells? Could they be abused?
IPS cells are cells that can potentially replace the use of ethnically problematic stem cells retrieved from embryos. Embryonic stem cells are cells created from the fertilization of an egg with a sperm that then duplicates into stem cells. These stem cells then differentiate into various cells needed for the body. These stem cells are highly versatile since they can be scientifically stressed to differentiate into specific cells and then cultured to develop tissues or organs. However, these stem cells can only be retrieved from the umbilical cord which only lasts for a couple of years or from fertilized eggs.
Problems being to arise when embryonic stem cells are retrieved from fertilized eggs because some say that they are murdering a potential life since some believe that life is conceived once the sperm and egg fertilize. On the other hand, there are many embryonic stem cells that are going to waste such as those fertilized eggs that are used in vitro-fertilization. Once a couple has been successfully impregnated, the previous fertilized eggs are tossed out. Why not cultivate those for stem cells and sacrifice one potential life to save hundreds of others. If that is still an ethically sensitive way of obtaining stem cells, what about those who decide to abort their child even though there already is a mass of stem cells which could be defined as life. These people have, without a doubt, gone through hell to decide to terminate their child and have definitely been told NOT to abort their child however, they have made a choice that will stay with them forever. Since these woman/couples have decided to terminate, why not give them the option to donate the stem cells of their aborted child to science. However, they must NOT be given an incentive to donate the abort child's tissues as this can cause a "kids cash" business where woman continually get pregnant in hopes to sell their stem cells. It should be an option that is done with the purpose of helping mankind, like donating your body to science. If donating a body to science has been effective and accepted, they should be able to create a program for aborted children and stem cells with specific regulations and laws that can be socially accepted into society.
If all these ideas do get turned down, IPS cells are the next best thing as they are regular cells that have been reprogrammed to revert back into stem cells to be re-differentiated. They have the ability to function just like stem cells which eliminates the ethical concerns linked with using stem cells. Since these cells originate from adult cells, after going through the IPS process, the organ or tissues created will be easily accepted into the original person which means less rejected cells and less money, time and lives wasted. Remember, if an organ that is transplanted into a human being gets rejected, that organ is of no use which could have been implanted in another person to save their life. Other problems from IPS cells are the fact that is a long and expensive procedure, they may increase cancers or viruses, may stop dividing and have a higher rate of cell death (1). Although there are problems with IPS cells, the advantages override the disadvantages of use and scientific research of IPS cells because it is easier to "solve" scientific problems than ethnical and moral concerns that have constantly divided society for so long.
If IPS cells can be used, have such high potential and decrease ethical and moral concerns then IPS CELLS IT IS!
1. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=cell-induced-pluripotent
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