Ethical issues in biotechnology - Case Study

Running head: CASE STUDY
Ethical issues in biotechnology
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CASE STUDY1
Answer 1
Stem cells refer to cells that have the capability to differentiate into a range of cells
and are also able to divide, owing to the property of self-renewal, which eventually results in
the production of countless similar kinds of stem cells. The classic definition of the
aforementioned cells is that it is able to endure several cell division cycles, while being in an
undifferentiated state. Moreover, the cells also have potency.
In its truest sense, stem cells can be either pluripotent or totipotent, in order to result
in the formation of any mature type of cell, though unipotent and multipotent progenitor cells
are also known as stem cells (Domen & Gandy, 2017). Hence, stem cells help in the
generation of new cells during growth and development of a body or during repair. The major
properties of these stem cells have been discovered by James Till and Ernest McCulloch. The
hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), also referred to as blood producing cells were discovered by
these researchers in mice (Hine, 2017). There are different forms of stem cells that are
namely, (i) adult stem cells, (ii) embryonic stem cells, and (iii) induced pluripotent stem cells.
Answer 2
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) generally refer to the cells present in the inner cell
mass of the blastocyst, developed before the implantation of the embryo inside the
uterus. During embryonic development in humans, the blastocyst stage is typically reached an
estimated 4-5 days after the stage of fertilization between an egg and a sperm, and at that
particular time, the blastocyst comprises of it roughly 50-150 cells. ESCs have been
identified as pluripotent and result in the production of the three germ layers namely,
endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm all through development of the embryo. In other words,
the ECSs are able to develop into more than 200 types of cells in an adult, if there are
provided essential stimulation for a particular cell type (Scanlon & Sanders, 2018). However,

CASE STUDY2
the ECSs do not directly contribute to the development of the placenta or the extraembryonic
membranes.
In contrast, the adult stem cells generate new cells during the growth of an organism,
or during replacement of cells that have been damaged. These cells are considered
multipotent, thus suggesting that they are able to get transformed to particular cells only. For
example, hematopoietic stem cells can only give rise to blood cells. Likewise, epithelial stem
cells are responsible for the production of cells that are present in hair and skin. The induced
pluripotent stem cells (iPS) refer to stem cells that are prepared in laboratories by extracting
normal adult cells from the blood or skin, following which they are reprogrammed to develop
into stem cells (Clarke & Frampton, 2016). Showing similarity with ECS, these are
pluripotent and are able to develop into any type of cells.
Answer 3
Taking into consideration the combined capabilities of ESCs related to pluripotency
and unlimited expansion, they remain a supposedly potential foundation for tissue
replacement and regenerative medicine following a disease or injury. The first clinical trial
that involved human ESCs was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on
January 23, 2009. This trial was based on the hypothesis that GRNOPC1, which is a product
obtained from human ESCs, would kindle nerve growth amongst patients who were suffering
from incapacitating injury to their spinal cord (Somasundaram, 2016). The ESCs are first
collected from the undifferentiated cells of the inner mass in an embryo, following which
they are grown in culture dishes for many months. After their proliferation into particular
type of cells, they are transplanted to the region of damage or injury, where these cells get
specialised into the necessary cell type of the affected adult. These mature cells gradually