ethics
Ethical
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policy
Stem Cells
Deriving Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines
Without Destroying the Embryo
by Anthony Tuan Nguyen
E
very human being begins as a single stem cell.
This stem cell has the power of virtually unlimited
division and proliferation until it differentiates
into a specialized cell, such as a muscle cell. Since human
embryonic stem (hES)
cells can be cultured to
yield different tissues
and organs, many
Are the lives of millions outweighed by the
scientists believe they
hold great promise for
inherent rights endowed upon a human embryo?
regenerative medicine.
Diseases such as
muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease,
and vision and hearing loss might be treated by transplanting
cells generated from hES cells.
The current approach of harvesting hES cells, however,
entails the destruction of the extracted embryo. In light
of this and other moral issues, in August 2001, President
George W. Bush discontinued federal funding of all research
on future stem cell lines. Published this August in the journal
Nature, Dr. Robert Lanza examined the ethical issues of a
new technique for deriving hES cell lines.
The Lanza Method
Dr. Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology, a
biotechnology company in Alameda, California, and his
research team have developed a new method for deriving hES
cells, potentially without destroying the human embryo. They
used a technique called preimplantation genetic diagnosis
(PGD), which is usually used for the early identification of
genetic defects in embryos created through in vitro fertilization
(IVF). PGD involves the biopsy of only one of an early-stage
embryo’s eight cells (blastomeres) for genetic inspection,
allowing the remaining cells to mature into a fetus.
Dr. James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin
was the first to successfully isolate a human embryonic
stem cell line in 1998. His paper entitled, “Embryonic
Stem Cell Lines Derived from Human Blastocysts,” was
published in Science.
66 stanford scientific
Lanza claims that the extracted cell from PGD can also be
used to produce a functional stem cell line, thereby preserving
the human embryo. Lanza cited PGD as the proper method
of extracting the potential hES cell, but multiple blastomeres
were extracted from each embryo and cultured in isolation
to increase the chances of yielding stable hES cell lines.
Consequently, no embryos survived into human beings in the
study. Previously, Lanza’s team had derived embryonic stem
cell lines from single mouse blastomeres, and those single-
blastomere-biopsied embryos were allowed to develop into
live mice.
The Moral Controversy
Interestingly, Lanza and his collaborators have seemingly
escalated the debate over the ethics of stem cell research.
According to
Christopher Scott,
Executive Director of
the Stanford Program
on Stem Cells in
Society, several issues
still remain. “Those
who believe a two-
day old, eight-celled
embryo is a person
will object to the
Photo Credit: Advanced Cell Technology
procedure on at least
PGD is a technique used to identify genetic
three counts,” Scott
defects in an embryo created through in
explains. “First, if an vitro fertilization before it is transferred into
embryo is a person the uterus. One single cell from an eight-cell
and has rights, then embryo is removed and the chromosomes are
we shouldn’t tread on examined for defects. The cell extracted in this
manner can also be cultured to create a new
these rights, including stem cell line, while the remaining seven cells
taking material from of the embryo continue to grow into a fetus.

Photo Credit: Javier Delgado-Esteban
Opponents of PGD argue that in addition to treading on the rights of
the eight cell embryo, removing one of the embryo’s eight cells could
possibly be killing a potential twin.
it to use for research.” There does not exist a definitive
boundary between cell mass and live fetus. Therefore, can
we perform PGD on the embryo and much less extract a
stem cell line without its consent? Why should we be able to
use an embryo for organ regeneration when fully-developed
humans are asked for their consent in organ donation?
Furthermore, “Because we know identical twins can form
at this stage of human development, they say that removing
a single cell to make a cell line is possibly killing a twin,”
adds Scott. In the eight-cell embryos, it is unknown which
cells are designated to differentiate into the fetus or into the
trophectoderm (external supporting tissue). The triggering
mechanism that causes cells to differentiate into specific
tissue has yet to be determined. Moreover, it is has not been
shown it is impossible for separated blastomeres to develop
into human beings. Nonetheless, the Lanza method can
bypass lengthy legal red tape because the embryo’s parents
can give consent for both PGD and stem cell extraction
concurrently.
As for the third issue, Scott says, “It’s not proven beyond a
doubt that the biopsy procedure doesn’t harm the embryo.”
To this date, thousands of children have been born after
undergoing PGD and lead normal lives. However, according
to Scott, “[This fact] seems to suggest the procedure is
relatively safe. But long-term effects of PGD may appear
later in life.” Because of the novelty of PGD, these children
layout design: Natasha Prats
ethics
+
policy
Diseases such as muscular
dystrophy, Parkinson’s
disease, heart disease, and
vision and hearing loss might
be treated by transplanting
cells generated from hES cells.
are only in their teens and possibly have not manifested
harmful side effects from PGD.
Uncertain Future for Stem Cells
Millions of sick people around the world can potentially
benefit from embryonic stem cell research, and public
funding can support more rapid development of new stem
cell technology. Yet, the ethical question remains: are the
lives of millions outweighed by the inherent rights endowed
upon a human embryo?
Scott remarks, “The embryo biopsy technique wouldn’t
cause such a big stir if we had government funding for research
with frozen IVF embryos.” Although President Bush recently
vetoed a bill for the funding of stem cell lines derived from
discarded embryos, Congress narrowly missed the margin to
override his veto. Apparently, the decision to federally fund
stem cell research lies in the hands of voters. S
ANTHONY TUAN NGUYEN is a freshman majoring in the Biological
Sciences. In addition to science writing, he enjoys scientific research,
writing for the Stanford Daily, and playing tennis and basketball.
To Learn More
Visit the NIH Stem Cell Information website: http://
stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp
Read the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act online:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:h.r.810:
Read Klimanskaya, I., Chung, Y., Becker, S., Lu S., & Lanza,
R. 2006. Human embryonic stem cell lines derived from
single blastomere. Nature. 23 August 2006.
Read Chung, Y., Klimanskaya, I., Becker, S., Marh, J., Lu,
S., Johnson, J., Meisner, L., & Lanza, R. 2006. Embryonic and
extraembryonic stem cell lines derived from single mouse
blastomeres. Nature 439: 216-219.
Read Thomson, J., Itskovitz-Eldor, J., Shapiro, S., Waknitz,
M., Swiergiel, J., Marshall, V., & Jones, J. 1998. Embryonic
stem cell lines derived from human blastocysts. Science
282: 1145-1147.
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