s c a n n i n g e m e r g i n g i ss u e s
o f t h e f u t u r e : #2
Developments
i n St e m C e l l
R e se a rch
Breaking through the controversy of
stem cells
The use of embryonic stem cells evoked controversy
over stem cell research. This controversy has impeded
stem cell research because it was hard to receive
approval for clinical trials. Recent breakthroughs allow
researchers to circumvent the use of embryonic stem
cells, wich could mitigate the controversy over stem
cell research and accelerate the results of new projects.
This would imply faster scientific progress and the
expedited verification through clinical trials.
For example in the future, new drugs may be more
effective. Damaged and lost tissue may be artificially
regenerated, incurable diseases may be eradicated.
Moreover stem cells may offer a deeper insight into the
intricacies of life.
Embryonic and somatic stem cells
Stem cells may be understood as unspecialized cells
that are able to turn into any of the 220 specialized cell
types known in the human body. They do so by
renewing themselves through cell division. They can
become, among other cells, muscle cells, brain cells,
nerve cells, or red blood cells. Mastering the technique
to create specific new cells offers unprecedented
opportunities to repair damaged or lost tissue or
combat diseases.
There are roughly two groups of stem cells. First, there
are the embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells can
be extracted from a human embryo and grown in vitro
(i.e. in a dish). The embryonic stem cells produce all the
organs of a developing human being. For this reason,
many religious activists oppose stem cell research.
They believe the use of embryonic stem cells for
research amounts to the murder of a young organism.
The protests of activists have led the approval of new
clinical trials for stem cells to be closely scrutinized,
making the United States Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) reluctant to give the necessary approval.
The second group of stem cells, the ‘somatic’ cells, is
found among specialized tissue, such as the brain.
Somatic stem cells serve as a local maintenance system
to repair local specialized tissue. Once a ‘normal’ state
of tissue is disrupted, the somatic stem cells are
activated to renew local cells. Unlike embryonic cells,
somatic cells do not readily specialize in as many types
of tissue as embryonic stem cells do.
The potential of somatic stem cells
A promising development is the capacity to ‘reprogram’
certain somatic stem cells to display the same levels of
potency as embryonic stem cells. These cells are called
induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The
reprogramming of local somatic stem cells is done in
vivo (i.e. in the body) by means of genetic modification.
The ability to reprogram somatic stem cells offers the
exciting prospect of reprogramming stem cells to
behave like damaged or lost stem cells. This method
would allow the regeneration of specific tissue without
the use of embryonic stem cells, a research requirement
that negatively influenced the progress in stem cell
research.
In 2009 scientists pushed this method a step further
by turning liposuctioned fat into iPSCs. A virus,
consisting of encapsulated genetic DNA molecules,
was used to deliver the reprogramming genes to the
relevant somatic stem cells. The target stem cells were
smooth muscle cells that surrounded the blood vessels
in the fat. The genes were successfully able to
reprogram the cells to act as embryonic stem cells,
allowing them once again to become many types of
specialized cells. >
S c a n n i n g e m e r g i n g i ss u e s o f t h e f u t u r e : FOCU S AN D METHO D
SCANNING EMERGING ISSUES OF THE FUTURE are a
series of briefs produced by the Strategy & Change
Program. The briefs in the series indentify emerging
strategic issues that are relevant for the four
themes of S&C: security, technology & innovation,
economy & society, and sustainable development (see
strategyandchange.nl/).
For each of these issues, we explore policy implications
across the four themes. To identify these issues,
Strategy & Change employs an innovative approach
analyzing a wealth of forward looking resources
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Second, with people living longer the size of
populations may vastly increase. This surge of mature
individuals within society will increase the societal
focus on (elderly) medical care and their role as
workers in the economy.3 However, the growth of
societies will also introduce a greater need for
resources, such as food, water and energy. This may
lead to international cooperation but resource scarcity
could precipitate conflicts.4 In any case, the need for
additional resources may greatly increase the costs in
welfare societies to maintain high standards of living.
Finally, the costs of stem cell therapies are likely to be
expensive. Consequently, stem cell therapies may only
be within the reach of a small segment of society,
widing the gap between the rich and poor as the rich
stay healthier and live longer.
1
Future Issue: Demographics Shifts, The Hague Centre
for Strategic Studies, p.55
Most recently, scientists were able to recreate complex
human intestinal tissue from iPSCs. This kind of
research is a preliminary step towards the generation
of complex tissue for transplantation and other stem
cell therapies. The use of iPSCs in research circumvents
many of the objections of opposing stem cell activists,
which will likely lead to an increase in research
successes. These successes may in turn lead to
therapies that cure complex diseases or regenerate
entire limbs.
Health gains and costs
Advances in stem cell research offers promising new
medical treatments for individuals. But these new
treatments may have implications beyond the
individual, as people stay healthier and live longer.
First, as people stay healthier, the productivity of the
labor force increases. This growing productivity may
add more value to economies if it can absorb the
additional labor. If this is not the case, however, it may
also result in a rise of unemployment.1 Additional
positive implications, however, are the retention of
valuable skills and knowledge in an economy, and the
capacity for society to save financial resources.2
2
Ibid., p.56
3
Ibid., p.64
4
Ibid., p.58