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Pro-life
warnings over a new form of stem cell research appear to have
been proved correct, with researchers now having cloned live mice using
a method of creating multi-use stem cells that had been hailed by some
- including some in the pro-life community - as an ethical
breakthrough. At the same time other pro-life figures, such as
bioethics expert Dianne Irving and physician Dr. John Shea, have warned
that the technique could involve killing newly formed embryos.
Two teams of Chinese researchers have cloned a set of live mice from
induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells. The iPS technique,
discovered in 2007 by Dr. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, is a
method of "reprogramming" adult cells to become "embryonic-like" iPS
cells. However, the Chinese groups said they used the technique, not
simply to create "embryo-like" cells, but to create whole cloned mice
that have only one biological "parent" or progenitor. The work was
reported online this week in the journals Nature and Cell Stem Cell.
Animal cloners Qi Zhou of the Institute of Zoology in Beijing and Fanyi
Zeng of Shanghai Jiao Tong University introduced four genes into
fibroblast cells of mice, hoping to "reprogram" the cells so that they
could differentiate into any type of cell in the body. When
transplanted into a 'tetraploid' embryo - one that would produce a
placenta, but has no embryonic inner cell mass - the reprogrammed cells
became whole mouse embryos that were later transplanted into surrogate
mothers.
Ultimately the Chinese teams reported 22 live births from 624 injected
embryos, a success rate of 3.5 percent. The cloned mice, however, have
a high death rate, with some dying after just two days, and others
displaying physical abnormalities. 12 of the survivors were mated and
produced offspring that showed no sign of abnormalities.
In March this year, two independent teams in Britain and Canada took
the Yamanaka research to what they said was the next step, and devised
what they called a safer technique for reprogramming adult cells so
that they become "pluripotent" stem cells. At that time, bioethics
expert Dianne Irving told LifeSiteNews.com that there must be caution
among pro-life advocates in endorsing the work.
She warned, "No test is reported to determine if totipotent cells
(which could be newly formed human embryos) are inadvertently formed
while producing iPS cells."
With the new Chinese discovery, pro-life advocates are again sounding
the alarm. Dr. John Shea, medical consultant for Canada's Campaign Life
Coalition, told LifeSiteNews.com that iPS cells are simply cloned
embryonic stem cells that have the inherent potential to "revert" to an
embryo.
It has always been known, he said, that the cells have the potential to
"revert into an embryo that is identical to the one from which it was
separated." "The planned separation of an embryonic stem cell is a
technique used in fertility clinics. Therefore iPS is a form of
cloning, and the use these cells for research involves or may involve
the killing of a human beings," he said.
Contact: Hilary White
Source: LifeSiteNews.com
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Date: July 27, 2009
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The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in
Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state
coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of
Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our
society. The IFRL is composed of people of different political
persuasions, various faiths and diverse economic, social and ethnic
backgrounds. Since 1973 the Illinois Federation for Right to Life has
been working to end abortion and restore legal protection to those members of the
human family who are threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief - that
every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. IFRL is
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