White Hat

What information is available?

What further information is required?

A stem cell is an undifferentiated cell capable of dividing to give rise to daughter cell which can develop into different types of specialised cell or remain as undifferentiated stem cells.

Types of Stem cell:

An embryo between 3-5 days old contains totipotent stem cells, these can form any specialised cell in the body

Adult stem cells can only form certain cells lost due to wear and tear e.g. muscle, bone marrow, brain. Research has shown that these cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent. These induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) behave like embryonic stem cells

Stem cells can be used to treat disease by tissue engineering, screen new drugs and to investigate how genes are switched on.

Red Hat

Consider the feelings or emotions involved.

The use of stem cells from embryos is an emotive issue given the potential of any embryo to potentially form a human life. How does it make you feel?

Human suffering due to disease needs to be addressed. If this ball of cells can help cure a person it should be attempted surely?

If it could save your life or someone close to you would you agree to it then?

Some religions claim new life begins at conception, in that case is this murder?

Yellow Hat

Considers the positives or advantages.

A blastocyst contains 100 embryonic stem cells, they are therefore easy to isolate and use effectively. Adult stem cells are more difficult to isolate

If embryonic stem cells were used it could solve the shortage of organs for transplant, they could be grown when needed.

If therapeutic cloning were allowed then a person could have organs grown from their own cloned cells meaning that there would be no chance of rejection, this however would mean creating an embryo for use. At the moment, only surplus embryos from IVF procedures are used.

Black Hat

Considers the negatives or disadvantages.

Organs made from embryonic stem cells will require immunosuppressant drugs to be taken, the same as donated organs.

Techniques for collecting, culturing and manipulating stem cells are still developing. The behaviour of cultures of stem cells is unpredictable so the technology is currently expensive and rare.

As it is a new technology long term effects are as yet unknown. There have been concerns about premature aging of cells. Some people object to the use of embryos on moral or religious grounds

Green Hat

Creative thinking, considers alternatives.

iPSCs are a real alternative to using embryonic stem cells. More research into these stem cells could have applications as wide ranging as embryonic stem cells with the advantage that they are made from the patient’s own cells so no immunosuppressant drugs are needed after transplant.

'Opt out' organ donation programmes can go some way to reducing shortage of organs for transplant where instead of having to opt in and give permission for your organs to be donated after death, your permission is assumed and there is the option to opt out if you so wish.

Blue Hat

Controls the process and summarises the findings.

The use of embryonic stem cells is never justified!

DISCUSS