Células-tronco - Debate

Stem Cell – Debate

This case is about Andy which were diagnosed with NEMO 10 years ago out of the 20 thousand genes in the human body, researchers at Children’s were able to identify the specific mutation (like finding a misspelled word in the Encyclopedia Britannica) that was causing the deadly problem. Until recently, the last time I checked, there were only about 72 cases registered in the medical journals of children with NEMO, and only half of the cases were alive. Most of them died of infections.

Andy had all types of infections all over his body. Doctors recommended a bone marrow stem cell transplant to try to replace parts of his immune system. The bone marrow would be the only way for Andy survives through adulthood. But for this work he needed a compatible donor. Which were very difficult to find let their parents with only one choice, have another child and that the new born umbilical cord stem cells. But the parents run the risk of have another child with the same disease.

They learned about IVF to have another child. A pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) checked the compatibility and rule out NEMO. It took them five IVF cycles and 36 embryos to find their daughter, Sofia, which were a health baby girl.

A couple of weeks later, they learned that the numbers of stem cells obtained from it were not going to be enough for Andy’s transplant. They were hoping to find a way to increase the numbers of cells without having to take more cells from Sofia. It was a difficult decision, but they knew that bone marrow stem cells are constantly replaced by the body, and they made sure that she would have no side effects. They waited six months until Sofia could donate an additional amount from her bone marrow, and she did fine.

Andy parents donated the rest of their embryos for research because they new that they didn’t want more children. And send the rest of the embryos for research were a possibility that they could save another life. Just like happen with their son. And in fact were exactly what’s happen, they found other families with the same dilemma.

So what is moral to you, throw the rest of their embryos in the garbage or use them to help other families? I can’t answer this question for you, but as a mother I’ll give my life for my child without think twice.

In fact many of you believe that stem cells can come from a mature fetus, which is wrong. The research can only occur with embryonic stem cells when the embryo is no more than 64 cells. Otherwise the research can not occur. So, technically abortion will not happen with the stem cell research since the embryos which can be used for the research can only be made by IVF.

Other fact is that ban stem cell research in United States, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies would move their labs to other countries, and this my friends would affect jobs in this country.

As the Hippocrates says: “As to diseases, make a habit of 2 things – To help, or at least to do no harm.”