Isn’t the debate over now that other methods like iPS or induced pluripotent stem cells were created that don’t involve destroying an embryo?
A. In fact the debate is not over because those methods are not ready for prime time. The reprogramming approach for deriving cells with the properties of embryonic stems cells from adult skin has some serious problems. Viruses are used to transfer the reprogramming genes into the cells and we know that those viruses cause genetic defects that predispose those cells to cancer. So in fact, those reprogrammed cell lines can never be used in patients. Scientists are trying to solve those problems and many believe it will be possible to reprogram those cells without using viruses. But even the reprogramming genes themselves have been associated with cancer. There are many scientists who believe that those reprogrammed lines will never be suitable for use in a patient. For that reason, research really has to continue with all types of stem cells including adult stem cells, reprogrammed stem cells, and embryonic stem cells lines derived from embryos.
Related Questions
- Isn’t the debate over now that other methods like iPS or induced pluripotent stem cells were created that don’t involve destroying an embryo?
- Will it be feasible to routinely derive induced pluripotent stem cells from somatic cells using small molecules?
- How are the induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells produced?
