scholarly journals Embryoid research calls for reassessment of legal regulations

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Hengstschläger ◽  
Margit Rosner
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Human Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Legal Regulations ◽  
Definition Of

AbstractIt is known that in countries, in which basic research on human embryos is in fact prohibited by law, working with imported human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can still be permitted. As long as hESCs are not capable of development into a complete human being, it might be the case that they do not fulfill all criteria of the local definition of an embryo. Recent research demonstrates that hESCs can be developed into entities, called embryoids, which increasingly could come closer to actual human embryos in future. By discussing the Austrian situation, we want to highlight that current embryoid research could affect the prevailing opinion on the legal status of work with hESCs and therefore calls for reassessment of the regulations in all countries with comparable definitions of the embryo.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Definition of Promoter and Enhancer Usage during Neural Induction of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. e0126590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Poletti ◽  
Alessia Delli Carri ◽  
Guidantonio Malagoli Tagliazucchi ◽  
Andrea Faedo ◽  
Luca Petiti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Human Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Neural Induction ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Wide Definition ◽  
Definition Of

scholarly journals Human Embryonic Stem Cells Where To Draw The Line

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-43
Author(s):  
T Hasan
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Human Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Eternal Life ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
Ethical Perspective ◽  
Wide Range

Introduction: Human-embryonic stem cells (hESC) are derived from very early stages of the human embryo. These cells have immense plasticity and can be conditioned to develop into any type of cell of the human body. Despite all their promising utility, hESC researches have recently been the subject of fervent debate. Objective: This paper explores the implications of hESC therapy from a bio-ethical perspective. Method: Published literature with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria was extensively reviewed through use of general and meta search engines to elucidate the applications and implications of hESC. Discussion: Studies indicate that the potential of hESC in reconstructive and regenerative medicine is undisputable but complex social and moral issues are hopelessly intertwined beneath the pleasant facade. hESC offer endless possibilities in understanding bio-molecular disease patterns, supplying readymade healthy organs, interpreting aging and organogenesis at the cellular level. The use of hESC is well established in leukemia and scientists anticipate diverse applications in a wide range of congenital and acquired medical conditions. However, many dilemmas arise in context of their biomedical usage because of the destruction of donor human embryos in producing stem cells, adverse transplant reactions, teratogenecity, phenotypic / genotypic abnormalities, nonstandardized research laws, logistic issues and the possibility of eternal life and humanoid chimeras. Conclusion: The wisdom to choose between ' mindful utilization' and 'senseless exploitation' lies with us. The large scale commercialization of human life or the killing of viable embryos cannot be justified by any means. A neutral approach with increased involvement of uncontroversial progenitors should be adopted. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jafmc.v7i2.10396 JAFMC 2011; 7(2): 40-43

scholarly journals Kantian Ethics And The Hesc Research: A Philosophical Exploration

PREDESTINASI ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Chris O. Abakare
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Immanuel Kant ◽  
Human Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Autonomous Agents ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Categorical Imperative ◽  
Moral Worth ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
Hesc Research

The scientific reports on the successful use of Human Embryonic Stem cells to cure many sicknesses as provoked a long-standing controversy about the ethics of research involving human embryos. This controversy arises from sharply differing moral views regarding the use of embryos for research purposes. Indeed, an earnest international scholarly debate continues till today over the ethical, legal, and medical issues that arise in this arena. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) had given a moral guideline that ethical decisions should be made by considering the nature of the act itself, not its consequences. Furthermore, Kant has warned that persons (autonomous agents) have a special moral worth or dignity, which is the basis for the respect that is owed to them. Thus, respect for persons, means never using persons merely as means to our ends, but always treating them also as ends in themselves. Some philosophers like Richard Doerflinger, Michael Novak, Gilbert Meilaender, and Robert P. George have used the Kantian formula of humanity to criticize the argument that spare IVF embryos can be used for stem cell research given their inevitable death and thus lack of properties for future life. However, the purpose of this paper is to take a critical look at the Human Embryonic Stem cells subject matter to investigate the concept of “personhood’, with the maxim of ‘never treating a person as a means’. This paper argues that if we accepts the definition of a person to possess capacities such as ‘rational’ ‘will’ and ‘self-determination’, then IVF embryos is not a person and can therefore be researched upon, used to derive human embryonic stem cells. Hence, Human Embryonic Stem cells research can be carried out within the ambiance of Kant Categorical Imperative without moral conflict. 

scholarly journals THE PROBLEMS OF DETERMINING THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE EMBRYO AND PARTHENOGENETIC STEM CELLS IN LIGHT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-80
Author(s):  
Анастасия Пестрикова
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Human Embryo ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Human Stem Cells ◽  
Definition Of

At the present stage of the development of genetic engineering, the question is raised about the legal status of a human embryo in connection with the commercialization and patenting of parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells. Aim: the article considers the main directions of developing criteria for distinguishing between cellular substances included in the definition of a human embryo, taking into account the latest achievements in the field of genetic engineering and judicial practice of the European Union. Methods: the author uses a comparative analysis of the main scientific achievements in the field of genetic engineering and emerging international practice of legal research in this field. Results: the author proves the importance of distinguishing between the definition of the concept of an embryo in terms of biology and genetics, and the consolidation of legal status and the need for legal protection, in order to avoid abuse of law and evasion of law in the commercial use of human stem cells and human embryos.

scholarly journals BMP-treated human embryonic stem cells transcriptionally resemble amnion cells in the monkey embryo

Biology Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sapna Chhabra ◽  
Aryeh Warmflash
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Human Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Inner Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
Early Human

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) possess an immense potential to generate clinically relevant cell types and unveil mechanisms underlying early human development. However, using hESCs for discovery or translation requires accurately identifying differentiated cell types through comparison with their in vivo counterparts. Here, we set out to determine the identity of much debated BMP-treated hESCs by comparing their transcriptome to recently published single cell transcriptomic data from early human embryos (Xiang et al., 2019). Our analyses reveal several discrepancies in the published human embryo dataset, including misclassification of putative amnion, intermediate and inner cell mass cells. These misclassifications primarily resulted from similarities in pseudogene expression, highlighting the need to carefully consider gene lists when making comparisons between cell types. In the absence of a relevant human dataset, we utilized the recently published single cell transcriptome of the early post implantation monkey embryo to discern the identity of BMP-treated hESCs. Our results suggest that BMP-treated hESCs are transcriptionally more similar to amnion cells than trophectoderm cells in the monkey embryo. Together with prior studies, this result indicates that hESCs possess a unique ability to form mature trophectoderm subtypes via an amnion-like transcriptional state.

scholarly journals Stem cell research: immortality or a healthy old age?

2004 ◽  
pp. U7-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Mummery
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell Research ◽  
Adult Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
The Media

Stem cell research holds the promise of treatments for many disorders resulting from disease or trauma where one or at most a few cell types have been lost or do not function. In combination with tissue engineering, stem cells may represent the greatest contribution to contemporary medicine of the present century. Progress is however being hampered by the debate on the origin of stem cells, which can be derived from human embryos and some adult tissues. Politics, religious beliefs and the media have determined society's current perception of their relative value while the ethical antipathy towards embryonic stem cells, which require destruction of a human embryo for their derivation, has in many countries biased research towards adult stem cells. Many scientists believe this bias may be premature and basic research on both cell types is still required. The media has created confusion about the purpose of stem cell research: treating chronic ailments or striving for immortality. Here, the scientific state of the art on adult and embryonic stem cells is reviewed as a basis for a debate on whether research on embryonic stem cells is ethically acceptable.

High-content screening of feeder-free human embryonic stem cells to identify pro-survival small molecules

2010 ◽  
Vol 432 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. Andrews ◽  
Melissa Becroft ◽  
Anders Aspegren ◽  
Jane Gilmour ◽  
Martyn J. James ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Cell Survival ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Protein Kinases ◽  
Human Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Rock Inhibitor

The propensity of human embryonic stem cells to die upon enzymatic disaggregation or low-density plating is an obstacle to their isolation and routine use in drug discovery and basic research. Equally, the very low rate of establishment of implanted cells hinders cell therapy. In the present study we have developed a high-content assay for human embryonic stem cell survival and used this to screen a range of libraries of ‘lead-like’ small molecules and known bioactives. From this we identified 18 confirmed hits with four structural classes being represented by multiple compounds: a series of 5-(acyl/alkyl-amino)indazoles, compounds with a 4-(acylamino)pyridine core, simple N6,N6-dialkyladenines and compounds with a 5-(acylamino)indolinone core. In vitro kinase profiling indicated that the ROCK (Rho-associated kinase)/PRK2 (protein kinase C-related kinase 2) protein kinases are of pivotal importance for cell survival and identified previously unreported compound classes that inhibited this important biological activity. An evaluation using an extensive panel of protein kinases showed that six of our hit compounds exhibited better selectivity for ROCK inhibition than the routinely used commercially available ROCK inhibitor Y-27632. In this screen we also identified the K+-ATP channel opener pinacidil and show that it probably promotes cell survival, by ‘off-target’ inhibition of ROCK/PRK2. We have therefore identified novel pro-survival compounds of greater specificity, equivalent potency and reduced toxicity relative to the routinely employed ROCK inhibitor Y-27632.

scholarly journals Five Framings - One Entity? The Political Ethics of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-51
Author(s):  
Torben Hviid Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Human Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Adult Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Laboratory Research ◽  
Political Ethics ◽  
Social Construct

Following their initial derivation in 1998, human embryonic stem cells have been presented in five dominant framings. The original framings as a breakthrough in basic research and a medical hope were both intended and orchestrated to anticipate and overrule the old bioethical concerns. The third framing nonetheless questioned the legitimacy of the bare laboratory research from day one. Two subsequent framings presented adult stem cells as Nature’s own solution and cloning as Mankind’s technofix solution, i.e. as alternative points of passages to the ethical concerns, but they did not succeed to regain the agenda and the public discourse. The five framing are thus elements of a still unclosed encounter over-determined by (bio)politics. Finally the framing of “facts” of nature, technological “artefacts” and social “construct” is discussed in the light of recent interpretations of stem cells as “state” rather than as “entity”, thus indicating that no single entity is to be found behind the five framings. *Key words*: bioethics, biotechnology, stem cells

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