Embryonic v. Adult, now Pluripotent Stem Cells

November 24, 2007 by Dr. Mc.

The announcement Tuesday of the development of
induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) will change the ethical debate over embryonic
stem cell research, because it has all the potential of by-passing the need for
embryo destruction. Until now, only embryos could yield cells capable of
developing into all three types of cells that comprise animal bodies (heart,
nerve, and flesh). iPS cells, produced by reversing the nature of adult skins,
can now do the same. Researchers have even produced cells that beat like a
heart. The process involves exposing cells to a virus that inserts a DNA
sequence into the skin cells. It is the sequence that says, "turn on undefined
cell reproduction."  The caveat is that the point of insertion of the
sequence into the existing DNA chain is at this point random. If it goes in at
the wrong place, cancer results. Cancer is basically the uncontrolled
reproduction of cells, reproducing so fast that they do not form complete,
healthy cells. The article cited above fails to mention that this is the primary
problem with embryonic stem cells, but the point is that we are in the same
position without embryo destruction, plus the technique that creates the
condition holds promise to solve the problem it creates. It will be interesting
to see if proponents of embryonic stem cell research will fade away, or continue
to lobby that they must have funding for embryo destruction.

Another observation that begs to be made here: This example
illustrates that every process in every cell must receive two signals, and they
must be independent from each other in the DNA structure. The process must be
turned on, and the process must be turned off. In this case the process is
reproduction, but it’s true for any process in the cell. If the process is not
turned on, life doesn’t happen. If the process is not turned off, life self
destructs. Even processes that are continuous must be regulated for speed with
something that monitors a minimum and maximum speed. Because every cell process
requires these bookends, every process performed in the cell is an example of
irreducible complexity. Under no circumstances could any controlled process
occur by accident, much less the entire organization of processes we call life.

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