Case Study Analysis: Ethical Issues in Biotechnology and Stem Cells

This case study examines the ethical issues surrounding stem cell research, focusing on the use of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and their potential in regenerative medicine. It defines stem cells, differentiating between adult, embryonic, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS). The case explores the process of obtaining ESCs and their potential in treating diseases. It also delves into the ethical controversies, particularly the moral objections to destroying embryos, and the viewpoints of pro-life organizations, and the role of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The case presents a scenario where a patient needs ESC treatment, and it prompts an ethical decision-making process regarding the use of discarded IVF embryos for research, considering the principles of beneficence and the rights of donors. The study highlights the complexities of balancing scientific advancements with moral considerations, and the importance of informed consent and ethical guidelines in biotechnology.

Running head: CASE STUDY
Ethical issues in biotechnology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1CASE STUDY
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,

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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

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replace the tissue that has been damaged by injury or disease thus resulting in a successful
treatment (Xu et al., 2017).
The characteristic of being able to propagate themselves indefinitely allows these
cells to be used as valuable tools for regenerative medicine and research, owing to the fact
that they can deliver limitless quantities of themselves for treatment of the condition. Some
significant human illnesses are caused due to dysfunction or death of one or more cell types
like the insulin producing beta cells in diabetes mellitus or the dopaminergic nerve cells in
Parkinson’s disease. The repair and replacement of the aforementioned cells using ESC
creates the potential for treatment of the disorders. Owing to this potentially unrestricted self-
renewal capacity and plasticity, the ESCs have proven successful for tissue replacement or
regenerative medicine.
Answer 4
The excitement about usage of stem cells in regenerative medicine can be accredited
to the fact that it provides huge medical advantages to the affected person and also creates
enormous potential for exploring cures and treatments for a vast range of medical conditions.
Moreover, the requirement for a limited number of cells due to the rapid replication rate also
make ESC use in medicine appear promising. However, there are several controversies
associated with their use in medicine. There are several steadfast pro-lifers and furthermost
pro-life organizations who consider the destruction of blastocyst that is generally a human
egg fertilised in a laboratory, to be ethically unacceptable. These pro-lifers hold the view that
life commonly begins at the time of conception, and that obliteration of the aforementioned
pre-born life is an act that is ethically unacceptable (Volarevic et al., 2018).
According to this school of thought, an embryo has necessary rights and interests that
need to be respected. Considering this perspective, extracting a blastocyst and eliminating the

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inner cell mass with the aim of deriving the ESC line is tantamount to manslaughter. It is a
common notion that it is dissolute to end the life of a human embryo that is few days old,
notwithstanding the basic purpose of saving or reducing the pain and distress of an already
existing human life (Younas, Younas & Mumtaz, 2019). Most people also have the belief that
inadequate consideration has been given to discover the prospect of the adult stem cells,
which in turn have previously been employed efficaciously for the treatment of a range of
diseases. It is also argued that not much thoughtfulness has been given to identify the
prospect of umbilical cord blood in stem cell treatment and research. Moreover, the
controversy is also based on the premise that no definite cures have been yet developed by
embryonic stem cell therapy.
During all stages of the therapeutic process that utilises ESCs, several decisions are
made by medical professionals, researchers, scientists, and females who donate their eggs,
and most of these pronouncements are fraught with thoughtful moral and ethical implications.
Additionally, the people against embryonic stem cell research often claim that the female
donors are typically not consented and that the subsidy should be used to significantly
magnify adult stem research, which in turn will help to evade the abundant moral issues
concerning the usage of human embryos (Segers, Mertes, de Wert, Dondorp & Pennings,
2017). Nonetheless, several pro-life leaders are in support of stem cell treatment and research
with the use of frozen embryos that persist after a lady or the couple has finished infertility
treatment and have agreed not to donate it to another pair.
Answer 5
As the name suggests, ESCs are derived from the human embryos, Most of these cells
are obtained from embryos, which develop from the eggs that are subjected to fertilisation in
vitro, particularly in an in vitro laboratory. Following fertilisation, these eggs are then

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donated for the purpose of clinical trials and research, after obtaining informed consent from
the female donors (Edwards & Varmus, 2017). In other words, the embryos used in ESC
based treatment or research are not extracted from eggs that are fertilised by sperms inside
the human body.
Hundreds and thousands of embryos that have not been subjected to treatment are
generally discarded in the form of medical waste by the in vitro fertilisation clinics. They are
thrown away for several reasons like abnormal development, presence of genetic defects or
decision of parents to reject them after they are done with the treatment (Ye et al., 2017).
Moreover, parents often elect to donate the embryos that are unused to other couples seeking
fertility treatment, commonly referred to as embryo adoption.
Answer 6
Sandy will be provided with the information that ESCs are not derived from embryos
that are alive or inside the womb of a mother. She will be educated on the fact that these cells
are obtained after the process of in vitro fertilisation that encompasses a complex sequence of
steps used in order to promote fertility or avert genetic complications, while providing
assistance to a couple in the conception of a child (Elder & Dale, 2020). Efforts will be taken
to make her understand that during IVF the mature eggs and not embryos are retrieved from
the ovaries of the females, after obtaining their consent. Following this extraction, these eggs
are fertilised by sperms obtained from the donors in a laboratory. This is followed by transfer
of the fertilised egg to the uterus (Damdimopoulou et al., 2016). With an increase in age of
the female, more number of eggs are required for a successful IVF owing to reduced quality
of the eggs.
Of all the embryos that have been fertilised in IVF, not all of them are implanted in
the uterus of the females. The remaining embryos are generally stored in freezers for a

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definite period, within which they can be donated to couples, as per the wish of the donors.
However, after the particular date, the embryos are subjected to burning or incineration,
which destroys them. Hence, rather than destroying the embryos that are no longer needed by
couples, it is better to donate them for research since the ESCs have the potential of
differentiating into different types of cells that can help in repair of damaged cells or tissues
or treatment of a disease.
Answer 7
If I were Sandy Allison, I would have provided my consent for the use of ESCs for
the treatment of Jim. Though the Christian faith does not approve abortion and considers it to
be morally wrong, based on the premise that embryos are unborn children, thus have the right
to live, similar to human beings and cannot be destroyed (Ede & Obeagu, 2018). Most people
have the right to control their body. Hence, if the female donors are not allowed to donate
their in vitro fertilised embryos to research or treatment, their basic human rights get violated.
The donors have the autonomy to decide what can be done with the embryos and they
also have the right to choose whether the embryos will be incinerated or used to cure a person
in need. Hence, only discarded embryos that have been produced for the particular objective
of fertility treatment but are of no longer use for that objective, and whose development and
discarding are subsidised by the private healthcare sector, can be used for stem cell treatment
and research. Usage of these embryos will be based on the ethical principle of beneficence,
and will help patients like Jim recover from the debilitating health condition.

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