Embryonic Stem Cells & their Controversy (unbiased view)

Summary

This video delves into the controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell research. It explains the science behind stem cells, their potential in treating various diseases, and the ethical debate on their use. The video outlines the process of fertilization, the development of a zygote into a blastocyst containing stem cells, and the destruction of the blastocyst during stem cell extraction. It also touches on the history of federal regulations, including President Obama's 2009 executive order lifting funding restrictions on such research, and encourages viewers to form their own opinions on the matter.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Stem cells are controversial due to their potential use in scientific research and the ethical questions surrounding their origin from human embryos.
• 🔬 The script aims to educate without bias, allowing viewers to form their own opinions on the use of stem cells in research.
• 🧬 Stem cells are unique because they can develop into any type of cell in the human body, offering potential for treating various diseases and conditions.
• 👶 The controversy arises from the destruction of the blastocyst, an early stage of embryonic development, during the extraction of stem cells.
• 🚫 Some people argue that destroying a blastocyst is equivalent to taking a human life, as they believe life begins at the moment of fertilization.
• 🧪 Stem cell research is promising for treating conditions like traumatic brain injury, muscular dystrophy, and other diseases where cell replacement is needed.
• 🧐 The script explains the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF), which often results in leftover embryos that can be used for stem cell research.
• 🇺🇸 The U.S. federal government's stance on stem cell research has evolved, with President Obama's executive order 13505 lifting restrictions on federal funding for such research.
• 📉 The Supreme Court's decision not to hear a lawsuit against the executive order has allowed the funding and research to continue without the previous restrictions.
• 🤔 The video encourages viewers to reflect on their personal ethics, morals, and beliefs to form a stance on the controversial issue of embryonic stem cell research.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the controversy surrounding the use of stem cells, specifically embryonic stem cells, for scientific research.

Why are stem cells considered controversial?

Stem cells are controversial because some people believe that human life begins at the moment of fertilization, and the extraction of embryonic stem cells destroys the blastocyst, which they equate to the destruction of a human life.

What is a haploid cell?

A haploid cell is a cell that contains half the number of chromosomes of a species' normal diploid cells. In humans, haploid cells like egg cells have 23 chromosomes instead of the usual 46.

What happens during the process of mitosis?

Mitosis is a type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, leading to the formation of a blastocyst from a zygote.

What is a blastocyst and what role do embryonic stem cells play within it?

A blastocyst is a stage in embryonic development consisting of a cluster of cells in a fluid-filled cavity. Embryonic stem cells within the blastocyst have the potential to become any type of cell in the human body.

How does the process of in vitro fertilization relate to stem cell research?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) creates multiple zygotes, some of which may not be used for implantation. The leftover blastocysts can be used for embryonic stem cell research, which is a source of controversy.

What is the potential benefit of stem cell research as discussed in the video?

Stem cell research holds the potential to develop treatments for various diseases and conditions by replacing damaged cells with new, healthy cells.

What was the stance of the U.S. federal government on stem cell research during George W. Bush's presidency?

During George W. Bush's presidency, there were restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

What change was made regarding stem cell research funding under President Barack Obama?

President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13505, which removed the funding restrictions on embryonic stem cell research that were in place under the previous administration.

What was the Supreme Court's decision regarding the challenge to Executive Order 13505?

The Supreme Court decided not to hear a lawsuit aimed at blocking Executive Order 13505, allowing the order to stand and the restrictions on funding to be removed.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 Introduction to Stem Cells and Controversy

The video begins by addressing the controversial nature of stem cell research, aiming to educate viewers on the topic without bias. It introduces stem cells and sets the stage for a deeper exploration of their potential and the ethical debates surrounding their use. The presenter emphasizes the importance of understanding the scientific and societal arguments for and against stem cell research, hinting at the complexity of the issue.

05:01

🔬 Stem Cell Research and Its Potential

This paragraph delves into the process of stem cell research, illustrating how a stem cell might be extracted from a blastocyst, which is a stage in early embryonic development. It discusses the potential therapeutic uses of stem cells, suggesting that they could be used to replace damaged cells in the body. The video uses a fictional example of a person with brain damage who might benefit from stem cell therapy, highlighting the promise of regenerative medicine. It also mentions various diseases and conditions where stem cell treatments show promise.

10:02

🚫 Ethical Concerns and the Debate on Life's Beginning

The script turns to the ethical controversy of stem cell research, focusing on the destruction of the blastocyst during the extraction of embryonic stem cells. It presents the argument that some people believe life begins at the moment of fertilization, and thus, the destruction of a blastocyst equates to the taking of a human life. This section emphasizes the moral and ethical considerations that fuel the debate on stem cell research, urging viewers to reflect on their own beliefs and values.

15:03

🏥 In Vitro Fertilization and Government Stance on Stem Cell Research

The final paragraph explains the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and how it relates to the source of stem cells for research. It describes how excess embryos created during IVF are sometimes used for stem cell research, further complicating the ethical debate. The video concludes with a discussion of the U.S. federal government's position on stem cell research, noting the lifting of funding restrictions by President Barack Obama in 2009 and the Supreme Court's decision in 2013 to allow this policy to stand, reflecting the ongoing legal and political dimensions of the issue.

Keywords

💡Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the unique ability to renew themselves and differentiate into specialized cell types. In the context of the video, stem cells are highlighted as a central topic, particularly embryonic stem cells, which are derived from the early-stage embryo and have the potential to become any type of cell in the human body. The video discusses the potential and controversy surrounding their use in medical research.

💡Controversy

Controversy refers to the ongoing debate or dispute within society regarding the ethical implications of scientific research involving stem cells. The video aims to educate viewers on the reasons why stem cell research is controversial, focusing on the destruction of embryos during the extraction of stem cells and the ethical considerations of when human life is considered to begin.

💡Embryo

An embryo is the early stage of development of a multicellular organism, in humans typically referring to the stage from the fusion of the egg and sperm until about eight weeks of gestation. In the video, the embryo is significant as it is the source of embryonic stem cells. The controversy arises from the destruction of the embryo during the extraction process for stem cell research.

💡Mitosis

Mitosis is the process of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus. The video uses mitosis to explain how a fertilized egg, or zygote, divides to form a blastocyst, which contains embryonic stem cells. This process is crucial for understanding the development of the embryo and the potential for stem cell extraction.

💡Blastocyst

A blastocyst is a stage in the development of an embryo in mammals, typically occurring about five to six days after fertilization. It consists of an outer layer of cells that will form the placenta and an inner cell mass that will become the embryo. The video discusses the blastocyst as the source of embryonic stem cells and the ethical dilemma of destroying it to obtain these cells.

💡Fertilization

Fertilization is the process by which male and female gametes, or sex cells, fuse to form a zygote. In the video, fertilization is depicted as the union of a sperm cell and an egg cell, each contributing 23 chromosomes to form a zygote with 46 chromosomes. This is the starting point for the development of an embryo and the potential for stem cell research.

💡Ethics

Ethics refers to the moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior. In the video, ethics is a central theme as it relates to the moral debate over the use of embryonic stem cells in research. The video encourages viewers to consider their own ethical stance on the issue, taking into account the destruction of embryos and the potential benefits of stem cell therapies.

💡In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In vitro fertilization is a process by which eggs are fertilized by sperm outside the body, in vitro. The video discusses IVF as a medical procedure that can result in the creation of multiple zygotes, some of which may not be used for implantation and could potentially be used for stem cell research. This process is highlighted as a source of embryonic stem cells for research.

💡Zygote

A zygote is the initial cell formed when two gamete cells are fused by fertilization. In the video, the zygote is emphasized as the starting point of embryonic development and the beginning of life according to some ethical perspectives. The controversy arises because the destruction of a zygote during stem cell extraction is equated by some to the destruction of human life.

💡Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Embryonic stem cell research refers to scientific investigations involving the use of stem cells derived from embryos. The video discusses this research as a source of potential medical breakthroughs, such as treatments for various diseases and conditions. However, it also highlights the ethical controversy due to the destruction of embryos during the process of obtaining these cells.

💡Federal Policy

Federal policy refers to the laws and regulations established by a national government. In the video, federal policy is mentioned in the context of the United States, where President Barack Obama signed an executive order to remove funding restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. This decision reflects the government's stance on supporting scientific research despite the ethical controversies involved.

Highlights

The video discusses the controversy surrounding stem cell research and aims to educate viewers on the topic without bias.

Stem cells are unique because they have the potential to become any type of cell in the human body.

Embryonic stem cells are derived from the early stage of human development, specifically from the blastocyst.

The process of fertilization and the formation of a zygote are explained, highlighting the combination of chromosomes from both parents.

The video illustrates the division of a zygote into a blastocyst through the cellular process of mitosis.

The destruction of the blastocyst during the extraction of embryonic stem cells is a central point of ethical controversy.

Stem cell research holds promise for treating various diseases and conditions, including traumatic brain injury.

The video presents a fictional example of how stem cells could be used to treat brain damage from a motorcycle accident.

The potential of stem cells to grow into new cells that replace damaged ones is a key focus of current research.

The video outlines the process of in vitro fertilization and how it can lead to the creation of excess blastocysts.

Leftover blastocysts from in vitro fertilization are often used for embryonic stem cell research.

The ethical debate is centered on whether human life begins at the point of zygote formation, influencing views on stem cell research.

The video discusses the U.S. federal government's stance on stem cell research, including changes in funding policies.

President Barack Obama's executive order 13505 removed funding restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.

The Supreme Court's decision not to hear a lawsuit against the executive order effectively upheld the policy change.

The video concludes by encouraging viewers to form their own opinions on the ethical considerations of stem cell research.

Transcripts

okay so the topic in this video is what

are stem cells but more specifically why

are they so controversial there's kind

of an argument going on in our society

on the use of stem cells for scientific

research and I really would hope that

you by the end of this video can

understand the controversy and at least

make a defense uh Pro or con depending

on what side of the of the argument that

you're on I I do not plan to give my

personal views the point point of this

video is simply to educate I hope the

tone of my voice or the words that I use

don't accidentally let my opinions be

shown so let's go ahead and get

started so you think of stem cells well

before we get into stem cells we need to

turn back the clock a little bit well

here's a woman's egg cell and so

fertilizing the egg so here is a female

egg cell and it's haid and if you

remember from science class you know

half is a vocabulary word that means

it's a cell with half the total number

of chromosomes that that a species

normally has in humans we normally have

46

chromosomes egg cells are haid which

means they have 23 so in that blue

nucleus of the picture are 23

chromosomes and here come many sperm

cells from the soon Tobe father so here

come a whole bunch of sperm cells and in

reality again men release millions and

millions of sperm cells

sperm cells also are haid just like

female egg cells so there's 23

chromosomes in each of these five sperm

cells that I've drawn and so uh

fertilizing the egg well one sperm will

eventually penetrate the egg and not the

entire sperm by the way in the animation

in a moment you're going to see just

kind of like the head of the sperm will

enter the egg and the nucleus of the egg

will combine with the nucleus of the

sperm here we go in our

there goes the head of the sperm and the

nucleus of the sperm fuses with the

nucleus of the egg 23 chromosomes from

the sperm 23 chromosomes from the egg

you now have what's called a fertilized

egg or a zygote with 46 chromosomes

congratulations mom's

pregnant well that that zygote that

fertilized egg that zygote is going to

multiply by the cellular process called

mitosis so for 9 months that zygote is

going to divide and become two cells and

four and six and eight and so on so here

we so like it says the Mito mitosis is

going to divide the zygote one cell

becomes two two become four by the way

it's not a zygote anymore uh it's simply

a a growing embryo I guess and so here

it divides again and divides again and

divides again and again and again and

again well let's zoom out a little bit

let's zoom out a little bit and see kind

of what it looks like in this early

stage

so when we zoom out we kind of see this

round circular structure and I want to

label a few things first of all overall

this round object is what is called a

blastos syy so the cells have divided

many times and it forms this round

object called a blastos it's filled with

a fluid that white space in the middle

is filled with a fluid it's not filled

with empty Hollow air uh the Outer Gray

ring of cells eventually are going to

become the placenta of the developing

baby the placenta is kind of like the

sack that the baby will grow

within now the lump of green in the

middle the that's what's important I

want you to pay attention to this mass

of inside cells right there in green

These Are embryonic stem cells

eventually this green mass will grow

into the baby but for now we're only you

know perhaps only a few days to a couple

weeks into uh the development of the

embryo so these green cells are stem

cells

and so I want you to pay attention to

the green embryonic stem cells in the

picture what's so unique about them well

what's so unique about embryonic stem

cells is that they don't have specified

functions yet they have the potential to

become any type of cell in the human

body as the embryo develops further and

further and further some of those stem

cells will eventually become brain cells

other stem cells will eventually become

muscle cells other stem cells will

eventually become liver cells but in

this early stage they don't have

specified functions yet these are what

we call stem

cells so if cell division continues for

nine months eventually the embryo grows

into a baby hopefully it's a healthy

baby boy or healthy baby girl 10 fingers

10 toes hopefully the kid kid lives

happily ever after well let's kind of go

into the research

now okay when we look at stem cell

research so during research so here was

our blast assyst again a stem cell might

be removed from this blasticus so let's

remove one of the green stem cells from

that blasticus now we're going to come

back to this in a moment but

unfortunately removing that stem cell

destroys the remainder of the blast assy

we're going to come back to that in a

few minutes because that kind of is the

heart of the

controversy but for now I want to focus

on that green stem cell that's been

removed that stem cell is going to be

grown into a grouping of stem cells so

let's remove the blasty it's sadly it's

been destroyed in this process so that

one green stem cell multiplies and

multiplies and multiplies and multiplies

and multiplies again this is all in a

lab now this isn't in a woman's uh

uterus or anything this is in in a lab

in a Petri dish we have what's called

here a line of stem cells if you've ever

heard the term a stem cell line it's a

small group of stem stem cells derived

from one original stem

cell and so when we continue uh stem

cells what's so neat about them what's

so promising about them is stem cells

are thought to be able to grow into new

cells that might be able to replace

damaged cells let me go through a little

fictional example

here here we have a motorcycle accident

and so let's say that a gentleman a

gentleman by the name of Lewis was

involved in a motorcycle accident

and as a result of the accident Lewis

sadly suffered brain damage you know he

survived the crash the helmet provided

him some protection but still the impact

was fairly traumatic and he had some

brain damage as a result well you know

let's zoom on in to that to the damaged

area of his brain for a closer

look when we zoom on in here's what we

see notice those pink cells have a key

that just popped up those pink cells are

healthy cells and the gray cells pretend

are the cells that were damaged in the

motorcycle

accident well what we've what we're

seeing and why research is so promising

we're seeing that by placing stem cells

around the damaged area that the the

cells around the damaged area those

implanted stem cells will grow into

healthy brain cells

hopefully as a way to treat I don't want

to go so far as to say cure but at least

provide treatment that perhaps LS in

this fictional example can be treated

and have a higher quality quality of

life maybe regain some of the uh the the

regain some of his abilities that

perhaps he lost as a result of the

accident so that's kind of what the

promise of stem cell research is now in

this example I had the stem cells become

brain cells but research is promising in

other areas

as you know here's a picture right here

and you know in a moment pause the video

and kind of check out the the chart in a

little more detail but here's a list of

diseases and conditions or stem cell

treatment is promising or emerging or

developing treatments and you can see

one of them on the list is traumatic

brain injury kind of like the example we

went over with our motorcycle accident

you know in that example I had the stem

cells turn into muscle cells or excuse

me in that example I had the stem cells

turn into brain cells but again we're

seeing that stem cells can be can be

turned into muscle cells to help people

with for instance muscular distrophy and

so uh there there's a great list of

promise that comes from stem cell

therapies so let's come back to this

picture here where we talked about stem

cell research and so what stem cell

research is trying to do is we're trying

to learn more of the secrets we're

trying to discover the secret of how

stem cells of embryonic stem cells

become specific cells we want to know

what causes some embryonic stem cells to

become muscle cells what causes other

embryonic stem cells to become liver

cells what causes uh I should say excuse

me um Can healthy cells can healthy

cells be turned backwards into stem

cells and therefore once we have them

turned backwards into stem cells can we

then turn them forward back into

something else of our desire you know

these are some of the areas that are

being researched and again as I

mentioned uh we're still kind of in the

early stages of This research but the

research is very promising so what about

the controversy we really need to

understand that

now so why is this controversial I kind

of glossed over it a few moments ago now

I really want to focus on that so

remember the egg cell at the very

beginning of the video we saw this egg

cell with 23 chromosomes inside of the

blue nucleus well here come all the

sperm cells again five sperm cells each

of the sperm cells has 23 chromosomes as

well so the egg and the sperm are haid

cells and so one sperm is going to

fertilize the egg just like we saw a

moment ago and make a zygote a

fertilized egg with 46 chromosomes I

hope you remember what happens

next that zygote is going to multiply by

the process of mitosis over and over and

over again

so here we see the zygote dividing by

mitosis over and over and over and over

again and we saw this earlier well let's

Zoom back out the cells continue to

divide let's Zoom back out

and when we Zoom back out we see that

lump of cells again called a blast assy

we saw this picture earlier now we're

going to get into why this process and

and the This research is so

controversial so during research we

mentioned a moment ago that a stem cell

will removed from that Blas assy and and

I brought this up earlier but I didn't

really stress uh why this is such a

controversial Topic in our

society during the extraction of that

green embryonic stem cell the blasy is

destroyed and this is where the topic

gets

controversial the argument that some

make those who are against embryonic

stem cell research the argument they

make is that they feel that human life

begins when a zygote is created human

life begins when a fertilized egg is

created so therefore if the blasey is

destroyed that's the same thing as the

as killing of a human of a human being

and so that is where we get into some of

the controversies around embryonic stem

cell research even though some very very

good therapies and treatments are coming

out of this research the argument is is

that perhaps ethically this is not a

sound practice because of the destroying

of the blast assist now if you're

watching this video I hope you

personally will do some reflection you

know look at your ethics your morals

perhaps your religious stance and I hope

you will come up with your own view

again I'm trying to leave my personal

view out of this the topic of this video

is hopefully to Simply

educate and so you think about what

where do all these research companies

and universities where do they get their

stem cells from well if you've heard of

a process called invitro fertilization

you may have heard of of a of a test

tube baby well that's really what

invitro fertilization is in invitro

fertilization what it is it's a process

used by parents who are not able to

conceive a child the natural way through

sex for whatever reason maybe there's uh

there's some there's some kind of defect

either with the male reproductive system

or the female reproductive system and a

let's say a married couple is just not

able to conceive the natural way they

can go to a clinic and have what's

called invital fertilization

done and what happens during this

process so here's a picture of a woman's

uh reproductive system and if we look at

the two ovaries you might know that

inside of each of the woman's ovaries

are thousands and thousands of of egg

cells and so during the process egg

cells are removed surgically from the

mother's ovaries so I took about a dozen

or so egg cells out in this

animation so there are the dozen egg

cells that we that we just removed

surgically from the mother's ovaries

well what happens next in invitro

fertilization next sperm from the father

will be used to fertilize each

egg hopefully you know that when it

comes to getting sperm from a male you

don't need surgery to get sperm from a

male it's pretty easy to get sperm from

a from a male so use your imagination so

sperm will be will be taken from the

maale and will be used to fertilize each

of these eggs and so therefore many

zygotes are created and this is all

happening outside of the woman's body

it's happening in in a lab dish in a

Petri dish so again this is not

happening naturally inside of a woman's

body well when we continue to look at

what happens next what H happens with

these 12 or so zygotes is eventually

they're going to grow they're going to

go through mitosis each one of them is

going to grow into a blasty so here we

have about a dozen or so

blastocysts what happens next a few of

the blasticus not all 12 a few of them I

have three of them pulsing in the video

right now three blasticus perhaps are

going to be implanted into the uterus of

the hopeful mother so perhaps these

three that are pulsing have been deemed

to be healthier uh and and therefore the

best chance to grow inside of the uterus

of the woman so those three are going to

be implanted now the reason they they

plant usually more than one is because

the odds of all three successfully

taking and growing into a baby are very

slim chances are um one or two or

perhaps even all three of them aren't

going to survive and you kind of got to

go over start over with the next group

of blastic ists but every now and then

you know one of them might take and so

what happens if the woman becomes

pregnant well good for her at least

she's going to now her and and the

father are going to become parents but

what what happens with these leftover in

my animation here in my video here what

happens with these nine leftover blast

assists if a woman becomes pregnant she

doesn't really need these anymore so

what happens is they're they're simply

destroyed as Medical

waste or here's where the research comes

in a lot of times these blastocysts will

be used in embryonic stem cell research

so this is where this is where you know

universities and private organizations

that are doing research this is where

they obtain their uh their stem cells

from right

here and so again keep in mind what the

controversy is again is that some

believe that life begins at the zygote

and therefore each Blas assy that is

destroyed is the same thing as killing a

human life again your job is to you know

weigh your own uh your own thoughts and

come up with your own

stance so let's wrap up this video and

quickly go over what is the federal

government's view on stem cell research

well March 9th 2009 President Barack

Obama signed executive order

13505 and what what this order did is

that it removed funding restrictions

that were placed on embryonic stem cell

research under the George Bush

Administration George W Bush the second

Bush George Bush to George Bush Jr and

so during George Bush's presidency there

were some restrictions that were placed

on the funding of embryonic stem cell

research with Federal taxpayer money and

so uh one what what what this executive

order did was remove those those

restrictions on funding and so this

allowed more research to be done on

embryonic stem cells and one of the

quotes the comments that that Barack

Obama made as he signed this executive

order was that we make scientific

decisions based on facts not idiology so

you may not you may not agree with this

particular decision but this is our

current view governmental view on stemar

research on January 7th 2013 the Supreme

Court rejected to hear a lawsuit that

was meant to block executive order

13505 so because the Supreme Court

refused to hear this lawsuit uh the

executive order was enacted and

currently uh those restrictions that

were under the George Bush years were

have been removed so that really

concludes this particular video on

embryonic stem cell controversies again

I hope I didn't include any tones in my

voice I sure didn't mean to if I did I

really wanted to just educate and inform

and allow you the viewer to kind of

weigh this information and uh uh and and

take it from there so I hope you found

the video helpful thank you for

watching