1. Stem Cell research &
Ethics Workshop
An overview of Debating Science Issues
An introduction to the Science of Stem Cells
Hope or Hype? You decide….
2. What is Debating Science Issues?
• All-Ireland Secondary School
Debate competition
• Open to senior cycle students
• All debates are on biomedical science
• Sponsored by the Wellcome Trust
3. Why Debating Science Issues?
• Encourage you to take an active interest in
biomedical science research and its
ethical implications for all of society
• Encourage you to consider the many
diverse career options available in
science
• Debate topics include: stem cell research,
GM foods, vaccinations, nanotechnology
and health and self-testing kits
4. Organization of DSI
• Small groups take part in round table ethical
workshops to prepare for first round of
debates
• Students work as a team under teacher
supervision to prepare debates
• 3-4 provincial heats (if successful!) before
Semi-final and Final
• Follow progress on the 2010- 2011
competition on Twitter @DebatingScience
5. • Independent research-funding charity
• Largest charity in the U.K.
• Established in 1936
• Founder of company that
developed AZT and Rubella vaccines
• Interests range from science to history
of medicine
6. Science Foundation Ireland
• REMEDI is one of ten centres of excellence
in Ireland funded by the Science Foundation
Ireland and dedicated to advancing Ireland’s
smart economy through cutting-edge
research and development. Forging
innovative partnerships with industry,
government and academia, the centres add
value to Ireland through job creation, inward
investment and international excellence in
science, engineering and technology.
7. Stem Cell science-
What are stem cells?
• Unspecialised cells lacking any
tissue-specific structure
• Can give rise to specialised cells
through the process of
differentiation
8. Where are stem cells found?
• Embryonic stem cells (pre-birth)
• Adult stem cells (post-birth)
Umbilical cord blood
Brain
Olfactory (nasal passages) tissue
Bone marrow
Adipose (fat) tissue
Other sources are being discovered….
10. Sources of embryonic stem
cells
• Spare or surplus embryos from
in vitro fertilisation (IVF)
• Embryos created for scientific
research using donated eggs
and sperm
• Embryos created for scientific
research using therapeutic
cloning
11.
12.
13.
14. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells)
adult cell
‘genetic reprogramming’
= add certain genes to the cell
induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell
behaves like an embryonic stem cell
Advantage: no need for embryos!
all possible types of
specialized cells
culture iPS cells in the lab
differentiation
15. THE DEBATE
-Currently there is no international consensus
on embryo research or therapeutic cloning.
-European nations vary in their legislation.
-In some countries, the debate over whether we
allow embryonic stem cell research is in its
infancy.
-This requires mutual respect for opposing
positions and continued dialogue.
-We need a proper understanding of the
scientific facts about development of the embryo
and what is involved in embryonic stem cell
research.
-We must think through our ethical principles
and their implications.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells)
Note: This slide contains a lot of information and may be too complex for some audiences unless there is plenty of time for explanations and discussions.
What are iPS cells?
In 2006, scientists discovered that it is possible to make a new kind of stem cell in the laboratory. They found that they could transform adult skin cells from a mouse into cells that behave just like embryonic stem cells. In 2007, researchers did this with human cells too. The new stem cells that are made in the lab are called induced pluripotent stem cells. Just like embryonic stem cells, they can make all the different types of cell in the body – so we say they are pluripotent.
Making induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells is a bit like turning back time. Scientists add particular genes to adult cells to make them behave like embryonic stem cells. Genes give cells instructions about how to behave. So, this process is a bit like changing the instructions in a computer programme to make the computer do a new task. Scientists call the process they use to make iPS cells ‘genetic reprogramming’.
Why are they exciting?
Researchers hope that one day they might be able to use iPS cells to help treat diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. They hope to:
Take adult cells like skin cells from a patient
Make iPS cells
Use those iPS cells to grow the specialized cells the patient needs to recover from the disease, e.g. certain brain cells. These cells would be made from the patient’s own skin cells so the body would not reject them.
There is a long way to go before scientists can do this, but iPS cells are an exciting discovery.
