Facts & Myths
Information in this section is derived from material developed by the University of Michigan (www.umich.edu/stemcell/faq/), with additional information from the Genetics Policy Institute (www.genpol.org), unless otherwise noted.
MYTH
We don’t need embryonic stem cell research because of the recent breakthrough enabling scientists to “reprogram” human skin cells into induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells that behave like embryonic stem cells.
FACT
Scientists agree it is too early to assess the full potential of induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cells and determine whether the reprogrammed cells are functionally equivalent to embryonic stem cells. In addition, the technique can cause mutations that predispose cells to cancer, making them unsuitable for use in patients. For the foreseeable future, stem cell researchers agree that research should continue along all avenues, using embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and reprogrammed cells.
MYTH
Adult stem cells are as useful as embryonic stem cells.
FACT
Embryonic stem cells have the ability to create any cell type in the human body. Adult stem cells are more specialized; they generally make cells typical of their tissue of origin. Thus, embryonic stem cells can do things that adult stem cells cannot do. To maximize the chances of discovering new cures, it is essential to pursue research on both embryonic and adult stem cells.
MYTH
Adult stem cells have been proven effective in treating more than 70 diseases.
FACT
While adult stem cell research holds much promise, blood stem cells offer the only proven adult stem cell therapies thus far. The claim that adult stem cells have been used to cure more than 70 diseases has been widely discredited. Opponents of embryonic stem cell research frequently make this claim, which originates from a list created by Dr. David A. Prentice, an employee of the Family Research Council who advises those who oppose embryonic stem cell research. Dr. Prentice often refers to sources that he says prove the value of adult/tissue stem cells as treatments for at least 65 diseases. However, these claims have been discredited in a scientific study by Shane Smith, William Neaves and Steven Teitelbaum published in the journal Science (“Adult stem cell treatments for diseases?,” July 13, 2006). They found that much of Dr. Prentice's footnoted documentation was based on uncorroborated anecdotal reports and nonscientific sources. In fact, the scientists said, nine diseases have been proved to respond to treatment with adult/tissue stem cells and agree that this research should continue. To see the full list of illnesses and treatments published in Science, click here.
MYTH
Stem cells from amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood can be used instead of embryonic stem cells.
FACT
Amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood contain adult stem cells. They hold promise for therapy but do not have the properties or potential of embryonic stem cells.
MYTH
Cloning is cloning is cloning. It's all the same.
FACT
The term cloning just means making a copy. All cloning is not the same. Scientists do many kinds of cloning every day. It has allowed them to develop powerful new drugs, to produce insulin and useful bacteria in the lab, among other uses.
The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) notes that there's a world of difference between reproductive cloning — something that is banned— and therapeutic cloning, also known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Therapeutic cloning is the transplanting of a patient's own DNA into an unfertilized egg in order to grow stem cells that could cure devastating diseases. Reproductive cloning is the use of cloning technology to create a child. Leading scientists, the National Academies of Science, the International Society for Stem Cell Research, the Genetics Policy Institute and most Americans oppose reproductive cloning.
MYTH
Therapeutic cloning is a slippery slope that leads to reproductive cloning. There is no dividing line between the two forms of cloning.
FACT
Therapeutic cloning produces stem cells, not babies. With therapeutic cloning, there is no fertilization of the egg by sperm, no implantation in the uterus and no pregnancy. Dr. Harold Varmus, the former head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a Nobel laureate, says there is a profound distinction between cloning with the intent of making a human being and research cloning to help understand and treat life-threatening diseases and conditions. Implantation into a womb is the clear, bright line that divides reproductive and non-reproductive technologies. Without implantation, no new human life is possible. This is where society can and must draw the line, according to the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR).
MYTH
Religious people oppose embryonic stem cell research.
FACT
Some religions do oppose embryonic stem cell research. Others believe that embryonic stem cell research is pro-life and that it is immoral not to pursue this research because of its potential to reduce human suffering. Most religious traditions, including Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and some branches of Christianity do not consider embryonic stem cell research immoral.
MYTH
Embryonic stem cell research uses embryos that have begun to develop as babies.
FACT
False. Stem cells are derived from blastocysts that have only developed for about five days after the egg is fertilized. The blastocysts used for this research develop entirely in laboratory dishes in fertility clinics and are never implanted in a woman’s uterus. These early stage embryos consist of about 150 cells and are the size of the period at the end of this sentence. At this stage, the cells are undifferentiated: They have no nervous system, no heart, no limbs and no specialized human tissues.
MYTH
Embryonic stem cell research uses aborted fetuses.
FACT
There is no connection between abortion and human embryonic stem cells. The embryos used to derive stem cells are created in dishes in fertility clinics. They are never transferred into the human body and are donated for medical research only when the donors decide they are no longer needed for fertility treatment.
MYTH
Embryos discarded by fertility clinics could be donated to another family rather than discarded or used for research.
FACT
Snowflake Children is a term used to describe some babies born from leftover IVF clinic embryos donated to other infertility patients. But the Snowflakes Frozen Embryo Adoption Program claims fewer than 200 births since it began in 1997. Many families are not comfortable donating embryos for adoption. Meanwhile, thousands of leftover embryos are discarded each year and more than 400,000 embryos are currently frozen in fertility clinics; most will eventually be discarded. So there are plenty of embryos available for both adoption and for research.
In addition, many embryos created for IVF are discarded because they do not develop normally or are known to carry serious genetic abnormalities. Such embryos would never be implanted. But in the laboratory, these defective embryos could help researchers understand genetically linked diseases and help develop treatments.
MYTH
Stem cell research is unregulated and unrestricted, thus paving the way for scientists to go down a dangerous path.
FACT
This research is extensively regulated under federal laws (National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Institutional Review Boards, HPSCRO Committees and more), and guidelines from the National Academies and the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). Additional restrictions were added when Michigan voters chose to adopt Proposal 2 in 2008. For example, under the adopted proposal, embryos cannot be bought or sold, can only be generated for the purpose of fertility treatment, and then can only be used for stem cell research if they will no longer be used for fertility treatment and are donated with the informed consent of the donor.
