• Question: Do you think there are many ethical issues in the world of science for instance in Biology using a human embryo for stem cells would you think they should be allowed. Im mean what if that embyro has been tested to have a positive gene defect should they then just try and alter some cells and use them for stem cells?

    Asked by nunu96 to Andrew, Daniel, Hayley, Natalia, Peta on 17 Nov 2011.
    • Photo: Daniel Scully

      Daniel Scully answered on 16 Nov 2011:

      Not all stem cell research uses fertilised human embryos. I understand that stem cells can now be extracted from cells in other parts of the body, and do exactly the same job.

      It’s the use of fertilised human embryos as stem cells that many people object to – many see fertilisation as the point at which it becomes a human being.

      If you can get the same benefit from non-embryo stem cells, that’s got to be the best way to go.

    • Photo: Natalia Parzyk

      Natalia Parzyk answered on 16 Nov 2011:

      I think there are lots of ethical concerns in biology because it’s connected with sth alive. And there is not only human embryo case, also experiments on animals, and many more (which I don’t know about because I’m not a biologist). In other sciences like physics (that I know slightly better;) there are also some concerns: like for example being a scientist and helping to create a war weapon (e.g. one of the publicly known story is argument between Bohr and Heisenberg over atomic weapon). So there is a lot of issue when human/animal or interactions with them are a matter of research.

      I’m personally not ok with using human embryo as stem cells. For me that’s human already because how else I can define what stage of pregnacy is human already. (but as I’m saying personal opinion, but I think some more people think like me:) And as Daniel said if you can use non-embryo stem cells and get same results,it’s better to do that.

    • Photo: Hayley Smith

      Hayley Smith answered on 17 Nov 2011:

      There are loads of ethical questions in the world of science. Wherever there is science and technology there’ll be people wanting to exploit it in some way that’s probably not really that good – but there are codes of practice and that in place when applying for research funding that require the methods and experiments to be ethically sound.

      Using human embryos as stem cells is a massively controversial area – I personally say that I’d agree with Daniel and Natalia, that if the same effect can be obtained from non-embryonic cells then that’s obviously a far better option.

      It’s often important to consider the ethical implications of your work – what is your science being used for? Would I be comfortable using my physics knowledge in the nuclear defence and deterrent industry? Would I be happy working in the defence industry? What about the international relations of the company I work for, are they sound? Does my company or my work involve testing on animals? How do I ensure any computer codes I create are safe and secure and not liable to be used inadvertently? Etc etc…

      There are so many ethical issues that can be considered, but I think in the very great majority of cases people do science for the right reasons 🙂

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