Summary

Current federal guidelines places a tight limit on the type of embryonic stem cell research allowed with federal funds.

Background

Stem cells are unique building blocks of the human body that have the ability to turn into cells tha make up tissues, bones and organs. Stem cells have the potential to replace cell tissue that has been damaged or destroyed by severe illness or injury.

Regenerative medicine focuses on two types of stem cells: 1) adult stem cells, and 2) early stem cells or embryonic stem cells.

"Adult" does not mean the stem cells come from adults. These cells are already committed or programmed to become a specific type of cell. Adult stem cells can be used to cure some - but not all - degenerative diseae and conditions.

Embryonic stem cells, conversely, are not committed to become any particular type of cell. They have the potential to become any cell type of the human body.

According to the The Alliance for Medical Research, Stem Cell Research has the potential to cure over 130 million Americans plagued by chronic, degenerative disease and conditions.

Acquiring Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic Stem Cells are acquired from two sources: In Vitro Fertilized (IVF) eggs and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) -- which does not involve a fertilized egg.

When couples undergo IVF, more fertilized eggs are produced than needed. Only a few eggs are used by the couple. Thouse left are frozen for possible future use, including adoption by another infertile couple or medical research.

Scientists can only access these extra frozen eggs with the voluntary consent of the couple. There are currently over 400,000 excess frozen fertilized eggs in vitro fertilization clinics.

Deriving Stem cells from IVF eggs

After about five days in a Petri dish, the fertilized egg divides, producing about 100-200 stem cells. The cell mass is called a blastocyst. Scientists add cell proteins and growth factors to the stem cells to transform them into specialized cell types.

The 100-200 blastocyst cells are undifferentiated. This means there are no organs and the cells have the potential to become any cell type in the human body. The stem cells remain in a Petri dish and are never implnted into a womb.

Political Context

Speaker Pelosi has designated broadening the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds a prority for the first "100 hours" of the 100th congress.

Links

The Alliance for Medical Research