Stem Cell Research
Psalm 139:13-16
Introduction: We live in exciting times. Our ability to diagnose and treat illness and disease is unparalleled with any other time in history. With all of that ability we have a great responsibility and we as believers must be regularly sounding out the truth of the bible as we discuss moral issues.
I.
W HAT A RE S TEM C ELLS ?
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Stem cells are cells that, in cell cultures at least, have the ability to divide forever.
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They can develop into any one of the 210 different types of tissue found in the body, such as muscle, bone, brain, heart, etc.
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At the moment of conception a single cell entity (zygote) is formed – with 23 chromosomes from mom and 23 from dad. As soon as that single cell entity begins to divide, it is called an embryo. It will eventually divide into the few trillion cells that comprise an adult.
A.
Totipotent stem cells.
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From day 1 to about day 5-7 the stem cells of the embryo are described as totipotent, which means that they have the potential to develop into an entire human being.
After the first few days of division the cells begin to specialize.
B.
Pluripotent stem cells.
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After the first few days, the embryo begins to develop an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer becomes the placenta and the inner layer is the young development of the human body.
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At this stage the stem cells are called pluripotent, meaning they can develop into any body cell, but they cannot become an entire human being.
C.
Multipotent stem cells.
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As the cells continue to divide they become more specialized. In this stage they are referred to as multipotent cells. These cells (the result of the pluripotent cell division) cells become one of several types of cells of the same tissue type (ex. Multipotent blood stem cells can develop into red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets).
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Stem cells then are these cells that begin to develop from this one single cell entity and as the more they develop the more specialized they become.
II.
W HERE D O S TEM C ELLS C OME F ROM ?
A. Embryonic stem cells are harvested from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst (a few days old embryo).
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After a few days old these stem cells are harvested from that inner cell mass.
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This, of course, leads to the death of the embryo.
B. Fetal stem cells are obtained from aborted fetuses.
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The next three are considered nonembryonic sources or adult stem cells.
C. The umbilical cord blood contains stem cells.
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These are similar to those in the bone marrow of newborns.

D. The placenta contains stem cells.
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These are similar to those found in the cord blood but they are present in greater quantities.
C. Adult stem cells are also found in bone marrow, lung, pancreas, brain, breast, fat, skin, and other tissues as well as in tooth pulp.
III.
H OW ARE S TEM C ELLS U SED ?
A. For cell therapy.
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The cells are used to repair damaged tissues in a living person from diseases such as diabetes, MS, Parkinson’s, heart attacks, strokes, etc.
B. Study of functional genomics.
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The cells are used to help scientists study the complex events of cell development.
C. Testing of new drugs.
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Note
D. Seeds for growing organs for transplantation.
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Note
E. Gene therapy.
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The cells are sued to repair and/or replace defective genetic material that occurs as a result of diseases such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell anemia, and hemophilia.
IV.
W HAT B IBLICAL P RINCIPLES S HOULD W E C ONSIDER ?
A. We should always respect life.
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Life must always be treated as a gift from God.
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We should reject any source of stem cells that involves the destruction of embryos for the same biblical reason we reject all forms of abortion.
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Ex. 20:13
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Proponents of embryonic stem cell research argue from a very utilitarian point of view. They argue that embryos can be used to harvest cells that can then be used to cure diseases like Parkinson’s; these embryos will be discarded anyway, therefore they should be used for research. The fundamental question left unanswered here is whether the embryo is a human life.
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This question is essential to the very foundation of our society. Regardless of the motive, even a noble one such as relieving human suffering, we cannot use a fellow human as a means to accomplish an end in our life.
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At a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing, Dr. Hymie Gordon, Chairman of the
Department of Genetics at the Mayo Clinic, stated, “By all the criteria of modern molecular biology, life is present from the moment of conception.”
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The very fact that it is living is the basis for why they want the stem cell. What good is a dead one?
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Psalm 139:13-16
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What about those estimated 100,000 frozen embryos that we have in the US today?
Each one has a mother and father who perhaps did not think through the

consequences of having their offspring conceived apart from the mother’s protection and nourishment, in Petri dishes.
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What about using stem cells that do not result in the taking of a life?
B. We should always seek to preserve life.
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Our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and we ought to take good care of it. We ought to treat it right and take care of it when it is hurt.
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Cell therapy to repair damaged tissues is really no different that the current practice of using medicines or surgery to assist the body in repairing itself and is acceptable.
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EX. In the treatment of certain cancers, chemotherapy destroys the cells of the bone marrow. Often following chemotherapy a patient will undergo a bone marrow transplant. Bone marrow from healthy donors is given to the patient and the small volume of bone marrow eventually creates enough cells to repopulate the body.
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Using stem cells, harvested in the appropriate way, to further study cell development or do drug testing should be acceptable as well.
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Moving beyond this is very dangerous.
C. We should not seek to create life or manipulate it.
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When we move to manufacturing organs for transplant or manipulating genetic material to create designer babies, etc., we have overstepped our bounds.
Conclusion: As the Lord tarries, we will face many other complex bio-ethical dilemmas.
Human cloning, designer babies, genetic discrimination all loom on the horizon. How we deal with those issues will depend largely on what we consider to be the value of human life. Are we just an arrangement of molecules or are we a creation of God in His own image?
(See article in Frontline , May/June 2005, p23)