bioethics session 2: hescr and transhumanism

Introduction to Bioethics

Cells and Genes: A Love StoryAn Overview of the Stem Cell Debate and Gene Therapy

1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall1

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A DefinitionGk. Bios lifeGk. Ethos behaviorBioethics is an attempt at ordering biological and medical behavior according to a set of principlesIncludes medical ethics, animal ethics, and environmental ethics1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall2

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A Timeline1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall3

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Notable Bioethics OrganizationsThe Hasting CenterPresidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical IssuesTrinity Universitys Center for Bioethics and Human DignityCedarville Universitys Center for Bioethics1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall4

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A Brief Biology LessonA painless introduction to the anatomy and physiology of stem cells1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall5

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An Endothelial Cell

The nucleus is stained blue, mitochondria red, and microfilaments green1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall6

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Henrietta Lacks and Cell LinesDiagnosed with cervical cancer in 1951 at John Hopkins University by George GeyHer cells were used to generate an immortal cell line without her knowledgeLater used at UofMinnesota to develop a polio vaccine in 19541/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall7

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Henrietta Lacks and Cell Lines

HeLa cells stained for actin (red), microtubules (cyan), and nuclei (purple)1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall8

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Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the bodyin many tissues they serve as a sort of internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.National Institutes of Health Stem Cell Basics - http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics 1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall9

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Types of Stem Cells


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Harvesting Embryonic Stem Cells


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Generating Embryonic Stem Cell Lines1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall12

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The Ethics of Stem Cell ResearchTo Harvest or Not To Research Is That the Question?1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall13

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A Secular ApproachUtilitarian Ethics: Four PrinciplesConsequence principleUtility principleHedonistic principleUniversal principleMajor proponent: Peter Singer from Princeton University1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall14

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[T]he fact that a being is a member of the species Homo sapiens, is not relevant to the wrongness of killing it; it is, rather, characteristics like rationality, autonomy, and self-consciousness that make a difference. Infants lack these characteristics. Killing them, therefore, cannot be equated with killing normal human beingsPeter Singers Practical Ethics1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall15

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Sacred Cells2008 book by Peters et al. advocating for Christian support of stem cell researchWritten by the theologians Ted Peters and Karen Lebacqz, both from the Graduate Theological Union and involved with the Geron Corporation stem cell experimentsProvides a helpful framework of alternative positions and their respective arguments


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Three FrameworksEmbryo Protection FrameworkCentral question: Does the human embryo has human dignity from the moment of conceptionHuman Protection FrameworkWhat does it mean to be human? Future Wholeness FrameworkChristian stewardship should compel us to pursue promising therapeutic research1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall17

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Embryo Protection FrameworkCentral Question: Does human life have dignity from the moment of conception? What does this dignity look like?Position of Nigel Cameron, John Kilner, Megan Best, the speakerTwo major areas of discussion:Scientific definition of conceptionReligious concept of the soul1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall18

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human life [has] a dignity which is intrinsic and, therefore, with an inalienable moral standingNigel Cameron, PhD, quoted in (Peters et al., 49)Stem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall1/22/2016 4:50 PM19

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Human DignityChristians generally support a moral dualismIdea of a marriage between body and soulRich history of discussion since Augustine (and even Plato!)The concept of imago deiWhat is this? Still hard to identifyHuman essential vs accidental characteristics1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall20

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The Augustinian TraditionAugustine was a 4th Century bishop heavily influential in Christian anthropologySubscribed to Neo-Platonism and argued for a body-soul dualismAlso pushed for original sin and just warHas been the basis of Western religious philosophy ever since


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And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.Genesis 2:7 (KJV)Stem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall1/22/2016 4:50 PM22

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And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of ManGenesis 2:23 (KJV)Stem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall1/22/2016 4:50 PM23

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The Augustinian TraditionThe Breath of Life is the SoulHe argues that Eve was made from the body of Adam, but the Soul must be from GodIf so, then every human has been given the nature of God from birth in the form of soulSome discussion on his interpretation of Exodus 21:22-231/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall24

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If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punishedAnd if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for lifeExodus 21:22-23Stem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall1/22/2016 4:50 PM25

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And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.Genesis 1:26-27 (KJV)Stem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall1/22/2016 4:50 PM26

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Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.Genesis 9:6 (KJV)Stem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall1/22/2016 4:50 PM27

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For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.Psalms 139:13-16 (KJV)Stem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall1/22/2016 4:50 PM28

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And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.Luke 1:41-44 (KJV)Word for babe is Greek , same as for Jesus in Luke 2:12Stem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall1/22/2016 4:50 PM29

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And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Luke 2:12 (KJV)Word for babe is Greek , same as for John in Luke 1:44Stem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall1/22/2016 4:50 PM30

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Some Biblical ConclusionsThe Christian should recognize the dignity of all human life made in the Imago DeiThe Bible confirms the continuity between embryo and babyIn addition, Scripture teaches a respect for the unborn embryonic human1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall31

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Embryo: A Defense of Human LifeA 2008 book by Robert George and Christopher TollefsenArgues for protection of every human from the moment of conceptionEstablishes the concept of an unalienable human essence demanding respect


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Embryo: A Defense of Human LifeFour Assumptions:(1) The early human embryo is a human being(2) Persons are to be identified with the biological entities that are human beings(3) All human beings deserve moral respect(4) Destroying embryos in research is failing to respect them in the way they deserve.1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall33

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the Christian bioethicist acknowledges the uniquely human potential for reason and freedom from the moment of fertilization and considers the embryo a member of the kind human being.Hall, When in the Course of Fetal Devolopment (p. 8)1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall34

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Sacred Cells2008 book by Peters et al. advocating for Christian support of stem cell researchWritten by the theologians Ted Peters and Karen Lebacqz, both from the Graduate Theological Union and involved with the Geron Corporation stem cell experimentsProvides a helpful framework of alternative positions and their respective arguments


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Three FrameworksEmbryo Protection FrameworkCentral question: Does the human embryo has human dignity from the moment of conceptionHuman Protection FrameworkWhat does it mean to be human? Future Wholeness FrameworkChristian stewardship should compel us to pursue promising therapeutic research1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall36

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Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer


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Three Person Babies


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CRISPR: The New Gene TherapyThe Science and Ethics Behind the Recent Scientific Method1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall39

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CRISPR-Cas9A bacterial defense mechanism now bioengineered to target specific genes within multiple organismsCan be modified to insert new sequences into the human genome1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall40

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Genome engineering technology offers unparalleled potential for modifying human and nonhuman genomes. In humans, it holds the promise of curing genetic disease, while in other organisms it provides methods to reshape the biosphere for the benefit of the environment and human societies. However, with such enormous opportunities come unknown risks to human health and well-being.Baltimore et al., Abstract1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall41

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It raises the most fundamental of issues about how we are going to view our humanity in the future and whether we are going to take the dramatic step of modifying our own germline and in a sense take control of our genetic destiny, which raises enormous peril for humanityGeorge Q. Dailey, Physician at Boston Childrens and member of CRISPR Committee1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall42

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Future DirectionsThe ongoing search for the definition of human dignity1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall43

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Defining DignityLockean Natural Law Theory and the Definition of DignityFinding Ways to Perform Good Research Without Harming EmbryosConsider the Ethical Implications of CRISPR and Gene Editing1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall44

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Suggested ResourcesAugustines On the Soul and Its Origins (available for 99 cents on the Kindle Store)George and Tollefsens Embryo: A Defense of Human Life (not 99 cents )Peters et al.s Sacred Cells

In addition, I am providing a few copies of a recent paper I submitted as a review of Embryo and Sacred Cells


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Works CitedAugustine, S. (2014). On the Soul and its Origin (Beloved Publishing LLC).Baltimore, D., Berg, P., Botchan, M., Carroll, D., Charo, R.A., Church, G., Corn, J.E., Daley, G.Q., Doudna, J.A., Fenner, M., et al. (2015). A prudent path forward for genomic engineering and germline gene modification. Science 348, 3638.Best, D.M. (2012). Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Ethics and the Beginning of Human Life (Kingsford, N.S.W.: InterVarsity Press).Elkins, G.S. (2010). Sacred Cells? A Reply to Peters, Lebacqz, and Bennett. Ethics Med. Int. J. Bioeth. 26, 147160.Fitzgerald, A., and Cavadini, J.C. (1999). Augustine Through the Ages: An Encyclopedia (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing).George, R.P., and Tollefsen, C. (2011). Embryo: a defense of human life (Princeton, New Jersey: Witherspoon Institute, c2011.).Kilner, M.J.F. (1992). Life on the Line: Ethics, Aging, Ending Patients Lives, and Allocating Vital Resources (Bannockburn, Ill.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).Lim, L.M., and Singh, K. (2014). Termination of pregnancy and unsafe abortion. Best Pract. Res. Clin. Obstet. Gynaecol. 28, 859869.

Orlacchio, A., Bernardi, G., Orlacchio, A., and Martino, S. (2010). Stem Cells and Neurological Diseases. Discov. Med. 9, 546553.Peters, T., Lebacqz, K., and Bennett, G. (2008). Sacred cells?: why Christians should support stem cell research (Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, c2008.).Sansom, D.L. (2010). How Much Respect Do We Owe the Embryo? Limits to Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Ethics Med. Int. J. Bioeth. 26, 161173.Human Embryonic Development | HHMIs BioInteractive.Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Animation | HHMIs BioInteractive.Potent Biology: Stem Cells, Cloning, and Regeneration | HHMIs BioInteractive.1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall46

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1/22/2016 4:50 PMStem Cells and Gene Therapy - C. Hall47Questions and Answers

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