Stem Cells Across The Curriculum

There are many sources of human stem cells including embryonic, adult, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iSPCS). These categories of stem cells differ in their ability to regenerate and differentiate into different cell types. As embryonic stem cells (ESCs) possess strong regenerative power and exhibit the widest range of differentiation potential, they are in high demand by researchers not only for expanding basic scientific knowledge, but also to improve regenerative medicine techniques that utilize ASCs and iPSCs. This demand for human ESCs requires a supply of human eggs, or oocytes. Though the in vitro fertilization (IVF) industry has developed techniques for stimulating the production of multiple eggs from ovaries, there is no FDA approved protocol and no federal regulations as this is a private industry in the U.S. Thus, the short term and long term health effects on young people undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation are at the moment unknown. Thus, some policy makers and activists suggest that ESCs only be retrieved from surplus embryos that were created by the IVF industry but no longer useful. Stem cell researchers, such as Egli, have argued that these surplus embryos are not the best source of experimental material and that incentives must be provided for oocyte provision to create ESCs. Some reproductive specialists are searching for stem cells in ovaries in hopes of creating an endless supply of human eggs in the lab environment using very few samples of ovarian tissues.The following resources review the protocols for ovarian hyperstimulation and egg retrieval and present the arguments for and against payment for oocyte provision for ESC research given the potential health risks and commodification of the body. In addition, a video from the journal Nature highlights the experimental work of the Tilly lab in their search for the ever elusive ovarian stem cell. These studies have received some harsh criticism from his peers, as can be seen by the news item posted by Lovell-Badge. Meanwhile advances continue to be made with animal models while qualitative researchers investigate the impact on egg and embryo providers who are simultaneously seeking reproductive services. Legal guidelines for such bartering for reduced cost of reproductive services has been in place in the UK since 2008.