CHALLENGES TO BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

rg.uk/resources/video-library/19/animal- research-and-diabetes/ rg.uk/resources/video-library/19/animal- research-and-diabetes/

BT 11 Analyze challenges to biomedical research BT Interpret personal beliefs about biomedical research A. Beliefs about biomedical research – Integrate values with scientific knowledge and develop a sound platform on an ethical issue Use critical thinking skills in processing of information Stimulate awareness and understanding of how technological advances generate new ethical conflicts Understand that ethical arguments need to be justified with evidence in the same way scientific arguments are justified

Just as there is no absolute certainty in science, there are also no absolute scales of rightness in ethics.

B. Differences between fact & opinion FACT – Information, ideas that can be supported by data, can be proven, etc. OPINION – belief not based on certainty or fact; something that seems probable to one’s own mind

C. Fact vs. myth in research What is a myth? a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.

Guidelines used to judge the accuracy, validity, correctness, etc. of a statement. What/who are the sources of this information? How reliable/credible are the sources? Can the data be proven? Does the data support the claim? Is there any comparison data? What is factual? What is opinion? How is the information stated?

Fact or myth? 1.Animal research is not relevant to human health. 2.Most research animals are dogs and cats. 3.There are no laws or regulations protecting laboratory animals. 4.Laboratory animals suffer great pain and distress. 5.There are alternative methods that can replace the use of animals in research.

The kind of language or choice of words used to describe scientific findings can affect understanding of the information presented, or in some cases mislead us. Ex. Of words that may mislead or misdirect our thinking: ALWAYS, NEVER, MOST PEOPLE, INDISPUTABLE PROOF THAT… Be alert to examples of myth stated as fact that may appear in the news promotes important transfer of training.

D. Role of animals in society What ways do humans relate to animals? Which animals do you use personally? How does society use animals?

researchhttp:// research rg.uk/schoolzone/ rg.uk/schoolzone/

BT Analyze transgenic animals Early beginnings –Biotechnology – collection of scientific techniques that use living cells & molecules to make products and solve problems

Transgenic organisms Organisms that contain another species’ genes within their chromosomes

2. Historically – used in selective breeding of livestock, controlled plant pollination, and microorganisms to bake bread, brew beer and make cheese. 3. This is accomplished by transferring specific genes from one species to another

4. First transgenic organisms were bacteria 5. Scientists around the world use customized transgenic animals for their own research

6. Species include sheep, goats, cows, pigs, mice, rabbits, rats, chickens & fish

Benefits of transgenic animals –Animal models –Pharmaceutical production –Organ donors –Livestock improvement

Production of transgenic animals –The transgene (which contains the DNA the scientist wants to transfer) is introduced into a single –cell embryo –The embryo is transferred to a surrogate mother of the same strain –Success rate is low (10% - 30%) in mice –Success rate decreases in mammals

Care of transgenic animals –Most do not require special care –Some develop a susceptibility to disease

Government’s role in transgenic research –U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issues patents for transgenic animals –Only government policy is the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules

Ethical considerations 1. People opposed to transgenic animal research believe: threaten our environment, health & food safety 2. Beliefs of people who favor transgenic animal research

Future of transgenic animals 1. Current research limited to transferring a small amount of genes at a time 2. Much work remains to be done to fine- tune techniques 3. Possible effects of foreign DNA remains a concern 4. The use of transgenic models is an established part of biomedical research

The New McDonald Pharm Imagine a typical drive through the countryside. As you look out your window, you notice a farm. There are cows and sheep grazing on grass, chickens in the coop and pigs in the sty. However, this is no ordinary farm. What you don’t see is a blood clotting factor being produced in the cow’s milk, strong yet light- weight spider silk proteins being produced in the sheep, vaccines in the chicken eggs and that the pigs are destined to be a source of transplant organs (xenotransplantation). No, this is no ordinary farm. This farm of the future is actually a “pharm.”

Pharming, yet another cleverly misspelled word produced by the biotechnology sector, refers to using transgenic animals (animals that carry foreign genes in their genome) to produce drugs or other products beneficial to humans [1]. While this idea may not be that new, its implementation is just now beginning to take shape..

Numerous companies are springing up all over the world marketing a plethora of these pharmaceutical products. With our current knowledge of what affects embryonic development being limited, the major hurdle to the success of these products is the ethical issues that have arisen through the use of transgenic animals, especially if they are to be used for human consumption

Transgenic Animal Videos Harvest of fearhttp://

BT Evaluate therapeutic vs. reproductive cloning History of cloning 1. Dolly the sheep – first cloned mammal in Very few scientists believe human cloning (reproductive cloning) should be permitted. 3. Many scientists in favor of therapeutic cloning – the procedure used to produce embryonic stem cells that theoretically can be used to treat diseases

What is a clone? 1. CLONE = precise genetic copy 2. Reproductive cloning is really somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) 3. In therapeutic cloning, the embryo is not placed in a surrogate, but rather, undergoes cell division in the lab until it reaches blastocyst stage

Obstacles to reproductive cloning using animals 1. Success rate very low 2. Vast majority of problems occur during fetal development 3. Additional problems show up after birth and years later 4. “large offspring syndrome” = cloned newborns 20-30% larger than usual, making it hard to deliver unborn babies

cloning/clickandclone/ It allows you to be interactive in the process of cloning a mouse and it shares detailed information as you move thru the process. cloning/clickandclone/

Embryonic and adult stem cells 1. Adult stem cells – transfusion when radiation treatment for cancer has destroyed stem cells 2. Embryonic stem cells – researchers have found that embryonic stem cells, when placed into various parts of the body, apparently want to “fit in” with their new neighbors. They pick up the developmental cues from their neighboring cells and differentiate into that cell type.

Differences between reproductive cloning, therapeutic cloning, and stem cell research –Goal of reproductive cloning is to create a new organism, human or animal –Goal of therapeutic cloning is to produce embryonic stem cells

F. Human stem cell research –2001 legislation allowed federal funding of research using 64 existing human embryonic stem cells –Same legislation declared no federal funds for additional research 2009 President Obama issued “Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells.” This overturned the 2001 decision and stated that the federal government can support and conduct responsible, scientifically worthy human stem cell research.

G. Therapeutic potential of stem cells 1.Researchers must use existing human stem cells lines for research or find private funding sources 2.Creation of embryonic stem cells does use fertilized egg 3.It does have the potential to become a living thing if transplanted into the uterus

4. Question – is life destroyed if the stem cells are removed from the blastocyst four days later? 5. Real advantage of stem cells – permits the production of perfect match tissue 6. Scientists have found that embryonic stem cells pick up cues from neighboring cells and differentiate into that cell type 7. Scientists hope stem cells will be used to treat heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, other disorders of the nervous system

Other sources of stem cells???? Cord blood