The University of Southampton

Author: Daniel Ridge

The Stem Cell Odyssey

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Cell-ebrities of Regeneration: The Stem Cell Odyssey

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Insights from a Lab Visit

Whilst visiting the labs of PhD students, I learned about the endless possibilities of stem cell engineering and was excited by the prospect that if any of my own cells ever faltered, there was potential of replacing them. Also, I was particularly captivated by a PhD student (Aya Ben Issa’s) and her research investigating how suspending cancer stem cells in hydrogels of different elasticity’s affects their proliferation. Recognising that this research could be instrumental in targeting cancer tumour progression, I felt inclined to research stem cells further.

Ethical Reflections on Stem Cell Utilization

Initially my attention was drawn to the ethical considerations surrounding their usage, and the contentious nature of “embryonic stem cells” in particular. A popular argument is that obtaining these cells involves “murder”. This disheartened me and as a catholic I felt obligated to investigate if this process contradicted my religious responsibilities. I was reminded of Isaiah 49:1; “Before I was born the Lord called me” showing the value of life prior to even being formed. Ethical concerns even burdened powerful people such as George W. Bush, hence he reduced stem cell funding. However, my own ethical conundrum was quickly squashed when learning about Shinya Yamanaka in a lecture. He minimised the need for embryonic stem cells by discovering that in mice, activating genes such as Oct4 and Sox2 allowed the skin cells to transform into pluripotent stem cells. These could differentiate into an extensive array of other cell types without harming embryos.

Click to Watch a Video On the Science of Stem cells

The Futures Coming…For Better or For Worse?

Future technological advances such as CRISPR gene editing technology also interest me. Precise modifications can be made to the stem cell genome to enhance their regenerative potential and by altering defective genes, the stem-cells can directly replace the faulty cells. This tailor-made approach is more personalised than giving a patient generic medication and hence may yield more effective results and reduce rejection in patients. $1.58 billion was spent on stem cell research in America in 2017 and having personalised treatment would cause further financial strain. I fear this could result in a system where the rich live longer than the poor. Despite this potential injustice, I am in support of the extra funding and take a consequentialist approach as the significant number of people this could help (such as The Berlin Patient) outweighs the ethical dilemmas.

The Berlin Patient

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Known as The Berlin patient, Timothy Ray-Brown was diagnosed with acute-myeloid-leukaemia and HIV. He received HIV resistant stem cells (Attributed to CCR5-Delta-32 mutation) that cured both his Leukaemia and HIV. Reading about this confirmed my opinion that extensive funding for stem cell research is imperative for the future.

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The Legality of Stem Cell Use

The use of embryonic stem cells is legal in the UK, dictated by acts such as the “Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations” (2001). Only absolutely necessary research was permitted yet who dictates what’s necessary? Politicians? Scientists? Religious Zealots? I believe in Cleisthenes (referred to as the founder of democracy) and his approach where the majority opinion is implemented. In society, law often shapes social acceptance, yet my belief is that complying with legal standards doesn’t automatically guarantee that you are acting with moral integrity.

To Conclude…

Overall, despite my ethical concerns, I remain convinced that stem cells are warranted in our society and the excitement within the scientific community has grown my interest. I have been amazed by their potential, highlighted in my video below:

The Science Of Science Blogging

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The Science of Science Blogging: Separating Fact from Fiction

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”

Stephen-Hawking

Throughout my early scientific career, I have observed that reliable published scientific papers often have perplexing scientific-terminology. So, what’s the solution? Blogs? A form of comprehensible literature, however, they introduce bias. The author is advocating their opinion, providing opportunities for unreliability. Whilst in this blog, I will not directly discredit other authors, I will provide guidance for reading blogs using controversial topics.

Engineering Prosthetics: A More Accessible World?

We currently have Myoelectric Prosthetics, which use muscles from residual limbs of amputees to control appendages. Advancing technology strives towards fully-integrated prosthetics (requiring only the nervous system to function). I see this concept as enormously advantageous to society, improving the lives of 57.7 million amputees worldwide. I recently watched a video about an amputee called “Johnny Matheny” and I felt captivated by his excitement towards a future where amputees don’t feel disadvantaged.

Johnny Matheny

Did my opinion alter yours? The data, case study and emotive language was skewed towards one point of view, however my opinion is more complex. My opinion failed to debate and evaluate the ethical, societal and legal concepts. Ethically speaking, creating a fully functional limb out of carbon-fibre could almost be considered as a weapon (which frightens me) and conversely, the concept could be militarised causing international tensions. Moreover, limb loss occurs in the military hence an unfair expectation to re-enlist as a chimera of man and machine after already losing a limb for their country may occur. Furthermore, I feel as though in events such as the Paralympics, the success of the athletes would be more reliant on the technology of their prosthetics rather than personal skill which I deem as de-humanising our society.

Click to watch Johnny Matheny

Ethical Considerations of Embryonic Stem Cells: A Delicate Balance

In my opinion, embryonic stem cells should definitely be utilised as they are pluripotent, hence could benefit billions. As an individual with impaired eyesight, the future prospect of replacing damaged photoreceptor cells to cure blindness is attractive to me.

However, my opinion has failed to focus on the ethical opposition. Some element of my moral conscience believes that it’s inhumane to fertilise the egg and then proceed to deconstruct a material that has the capacity to become a sentient being. Aristotle’s eudaimonia virtue ethics valued the preservation of life, and similarly my moral compass burdens me with the thought, should embryonic stem cells be illegal due to lack of embryo consent? “Section-10(2) of the Human Rights Act specifically prohibits involuntary medical or scientific experimentation”, so should this law be inclusive of embryos? Moreover, Jeremiah 1:4-5 says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you.” This quote suggests that spiritually, we were pre-determined before the act of egg fertilisation, and hence even though the embryo isn’t sentient, God had a plan for them. As an individual raised as a catholic, I don’t take this quote as literal, but more as a metaphor on the importance of all life. Therefore, I still believe the benefits outweigh the moral dilemmas.

To Conclude…

Overall, I have taken a consequentialist/utilitarian view as I believe the benefits to society outweigh the ethical issues, yet I experience some internal confliction. With blogs, the passion/opinion of the author may be persuasive and result in bias/propaganda. Also, blogs may be oversimplified, hence to form your own opinion, multiple sources must be viewed.

Watch Paul Fairchild justify his use of stem cells:

Man vs machine: A New Chimera

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Think back to your childhood and the incomparable difference of the technology then and now. Now think of the possibilities that future technology could consist of.

“Back when I was child we didn’t have all this technology”

The loss of limbs has significant impacts on individuals and can occur due to car accidents, wars or even a defect at birth. In America alone there are 185,000 amputees per year and this number is growing Medical and technological advances have currently provided us with some forms of myoelectric bionic arms so what could the future hold for us?

Listen here: Cochlear implants are redefining hearing

When understanding medical and technological advances it must be recognised that for innovative advances in prosthetics, both the scientific and technological aspects have to be advancing at a suitable rate. For example, in order for cochlear implants to of been created, a deep understanding of the physiological antinomy of the ear and nervous system had to be understood. We needed to recognise that individuals with auditory disabilities often stem from the concept of damaged hair cells in the inner ear. By recognising this we used developing technology to replace the need of these hairs. The implant serves to process sound waves through the use of a microphone and are able to convert these sound waves into electrical signals. These can bypass the cochlear hairs and stimulate the auditory nerve fibres. This begs the question, well what other lost functions can we restore?

This singular device has such a huge impact on millions of peoples life’s. Could a prosthetic like this be adapted to have hearing beyond the capability of current humans?

How prosthetic limbs are giving amputees a helping hand !

Currently, we have myoelectric prosthetics which are important in replacing the function of a lost limb such as an arm. These work by using the muscles in the residual limb to send signals to the bionic arm. These signals will inform the electric arm to contract or relax etc. This is done through the stretching and contractions of the muscles from the residual limb. As impressive as this is… it’s not ideal. The user has limited options in what the hand can do, such as very limited finger individual finger movement. Moreover, if there’s a lack of suitable muscle by the residual limb or no residual limb then it becomes almost impossible for the hand and arm to work. A battery is also required meaning the device needs charging or batteries frequently. This is important as in terms of living in society, the individual is still at a disadvantage and due to a limited mobility, the product may not satisfy the consumer enough.

Current research is focusing on fully integrated prosthetics. This would have a huge impact on our society. Fully integrated prosthetics involves solely involves the nervous system to bring about a response. To the user this would almost feel the same as if they had an arm or leg. They would “think” about moving a finger and it would move. In addition, as the interface is controlled by the individual’s own biology, no battery would be required in the same way the average individual doesn’t require a battery. However ethically and legally this could cause concern. Although this would be very effective for the amputee, you would effectively be building a chimera between man and machine. This could be militarised as rather than just restoring the function of an arm or leg, you could enhance it for military purposes. Even having such specific control over a carbon fibre arm; in public this could be conceived as dangerous. New military laws and national laws would have to be introduced.

When designing a product like this, the potential danger that could be introduced to society needs to be examined yet the number of people’s lives that could be improved is incredible. So, the question is… Is it possible to advance/improve our civilisation technologically without causing a new problem? …No, I don’t think so. Do you?

Confliction at Uni

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Are you going club tonight?

Everyone at university

Battling between what to do during the week is a immense confliction for me.

  • Tennis
  • Basketball
  • Education
  • Clubbing
  • Going pub
  • Eating out
  • Making dinner

All these aspects provide me with constant stress and anxiety. Things like making food requires tremendous effort but unfortunately it has to be done. Same applies to other chores such as going shopping which feels like an entire day trip out. By the time im back from the shops I feel accomplished for the day and despite it being 11am, i feel like I can watch Netflix for the remainder of the day and fell guilt free doing so. The only issue with this, is now Im now 20 lectures behind and i would catch up tomorrow… but its society night today so ill be paralytic tomorrow from a few too many of them horrible jesticles. Don’t worry though, ill recover just in time for trilogy Thursdays.

If your find out why everyone goes jesters on a wednesday night because im still trying to understand. When i went last time i had grown a whole ecosystem of mould on my new shoes. That taught me a lesson that university could never. I completely agree with this articles position on jesters…

The UK’s 10 Worst Nightclubs | Student Blog UK | AFS (accommodationforstudents.com)

Im not sure this photo is from jesters but… i wouldnt be surprised. In fact it looks slighly to well maintained to be jesters.

These are the type of videos i encourage everyone in my situation to watch. Its a new semester and well im currently here at my 9am tutorial so im doing better than last semester already.