This document discusses stem cell research and the ethical issues surrounding it. It begins by defining stem cells and their potential uses and then outlines the main ethical problems, which center around the fact that embryonic stem cells require the destruction of embryos. It also discusses stem cell research from business and economic perspectives, noting the large potential market but also that moral issues could slow growth. Potential solutions proposed include outlawing embryonic stem cells and using alternative cell types, or defining when human life begins to provide ethical guidelines. The document also notes vulnerable groups in research and potential uses of stem cells.

1. Stem Cell Research : The Battle
between business and Ethics
Group’s name – WISE , Section : “C”
Group Member’s –
o 12BSP1676-Pratima Singh (Group Leader)
o 12BSP0943-Rahul Kumar
o 12BSP0833-Paritosh Raj
o 12BSP0802-Nitin Mangla
o 12BSP0944-Rahul Kumar
o 12BSP0823-Pankaj Mishra
o 12BSP0227-Arpit Kumar
o 12BSP0012-Aastha Singh
o 12BSP1069-Sahil Dhuria
o 12BSP0830-Parimal Ghonge
o 12BSP0820-Milan Pandya

2. What is Stem Cell ?
• Stem cells are unspecialized and undifferentiated cells.
• They have the potential to transform into specialized
body parts human or animal alive.
• As they undergo mitosis they can remain as stem cells
or become specialized cells to replace old/dead cells, or
to aid in regrowth.
• They can be induced to become tissue or organ-specific
cells to aid with renewing/repairing tissue and organs of
human body.
• Now a days stem cell transplants been already greatly
used for medication, therapeutic purposes, and help
with diseases and disorders.

3. What are the ethical Problems ?
• The research had only shown that embryotic stem cells are useful in being
specialized (because when embryos grow the stem cells are undergoing
mitosis to be specific cells for specific functions), on the other hand the
adult stem cells were difficult to be directed to become a new cell type and
they were difficult to be extracted from living organs.
•
Scientists obtained their stem cells for any laboratory work from human
embryos and then reproduced them in the lab (“Stem Cells”).
• The method of obtaining the human embryonic stem cells, arguably
destroys the embryo and prevents it from becoming a potential life.

4. Stem Cell : Business Perspective
• Huge market potential for stem cell research.
• Prediction of US 100$ bn for global financial market.
• State financed laboratories is better suited to faster progress
of the cause rather than its exploration in the private
biotechnology companies who were competing with each
other.
• Growth of the market was subject to moral and ethical
consideration.

5. Contd…
• The pace of discovery of new drugs to effectively treat
the diseases had slowed down.
• that led to demand of alternative therapy such as stem
cell transplant.
• Resulted in investment in stem cell research by several
US and other biotechnology companies such as Osiris
Therapeutics, Life bank, Advanced Cell Technology.
• In 2005 US stem cell market was estimated at US $24.6
Bn.

6. Stem Cell : Ethical Perspective
• One may kill someone who is unjustly pursuing a third party to kill
him (fetus)
• Criticism, it is unethical, that entailed to destruction of human
embryo.
• Tomorrow, scientists develop a method to build a new liver, one
that would be a perfect match for him, requiring no anti-rejection
drugs.
• To perfect such a solution would require the destruction of other
lives.

7. Stem Cell : Ethical Perspective
• Major religions has been taught that human beings could not create
human life.
• A life-threatening situation for another adult does not justify killing
a fetus.
• While stem cells can be derived from aborted fetuses and even
adults, this would cheapen the value of human life.
• Discarded embryos are potential life forms and it is immoral to
abort them.

8. Who is Vulnerable
1. PREGNANT WOMEN
• Should be awarded special protection because of additional
health concerns during pregnancy and the risk of damage to
the fetus.
• Pregnant women must be excluded from research unless the
purpose is to meet the health needs of the mother, and
• The fetus will be placed at risk only to the minimum extent
necessary to meet such needs or
• The risk to the fetus is minimal.

9. Continue…
2. CHILDREN
• Particularly vulnerable group. The major ethical issue for
involving children is that parents are the primary decisions
makers for their minor children.
• There must be no undue inducement to participate for
parent, guardian or child, although reimbursement of
expenses is allowed.
• A “small gift” to the child after completion of the research is
however acceptable.

10. Solution
• Possible solutions to solving the ethics debate over stem cell
research are:
Completely outlaw the use of human embryonic stem
cells and use induced pluripotent stem cells instead.
Allow scientists to research at their own discretion.
Decree that human life starts are conception OR set a
specific phase in embryonic growth as what is considered
a human, and when and what rights are given.

11. Continue…
• Some research shows that induced pluripotent stem cells are
fewer in number because they must be genetically modified
before being able to have similar properties to that of human
embryonic stem cells and thus being able to be used to carry out
further research.
• Research on how humans develop and how undifferentiated
cells become specialized, a key event in the growth of humans,
becomes harder .

12. Continue…
• Stem cell research is enable scientists to learn about human
development in its early stages, or what’s going on in the body
with certain diseases and disorders and how to prevent or cure
them.
• Possible life-changing discoveries are hindered and prevented.
• Science would have a lower reputation because of its limits
against social ethics and how it would have completely lost
against it.

13. Continue…
• A clear cut statement is known and scientists can adjust their
research.
• Society and government doesn’t have to clash over the
accepted statement since it’s already defined.
• This would help with the debate on abortion and whether it
should be allowed or not.

14. Potential uses of Stem cell

15. Thank you