MIT Lecture Examines All Aspects of the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Debate
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Here, My Friends is a thoroughly scientific look at the prospects and pitfalls of embryonic stem cell research from objective study. Dr. Rudolf Jaenisch, a Professor of Biology at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and founding member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research discusses the evidence of why certain types of cloning can be in many ways set apart from others and further attempts to clarify the media’s picture of the whole issue. Jaenisch’s lecture is followed by a presentation by Dr. Steven Marks, of the Harvard School of Public Health. Marks takes on all sides of the legal rights and human rights debate. Enjoy this debate and wax on!
Note: Both lectures are clearly objective and present logical explanations for all views including the ethical and theological. Please if you have a chance, watch the video below. It has definite made me think about my own views.
Here is a summary of the lecture:
Definition of a Stem Cell
Stems cells are those single cells that can renew themselves and create cells of any type.
– There are generally two types of embryonic stem cell cloning:
Reproductive Cloning
– The cell is fertilized to clone an animal or human with a newly made genetic make-up and MUST BE implanted into the uterus. However, because it is a clone, the embryo doesn’t contain the usual distinct genes needed from two parents and the baby is not normal.
Therapeutic Cloning
– Using somatic stem cells (bodily cells): The donated egg is combined with let’s say… a skin cell:Unlike in reproductive cloning, new genetic forms are not made and therefore there is very little evidence if any, that a baby could ever be created… The embryo IS NOT Implanted in a uterus.
Problem:
– The Process of epigenetic manipulation (or manipulation beyond DNA) makes certain genes not readable: All clones have deficiencies (only offspring have been shown to be normal).
Excerpt from learnoutloud.com:
Ignore the noisy debate around cloning, Rudolf Jaenisch quietly insists, and instead look closely at the biology involved. First, note that there are two different kinds of cloning: reproductive cloning, the attempt to create an exact replica of a human being, which Jaenisch believes to be both biologically flawed and morally questionable; and therapeutic cloning, which offers potential cures to some of mankind’s most devastating diseases, and from Jaenisch’s point of view, sidesteps ethical pitfalls.
(Watch the lecture here, 1 hr 30 mins).
