Evolution, Human Cloning, and Stem Cells

Evolution, Human Cloning, Evolution, Human Cloning, and Stem Cellsand Stem Cells

Dr. Ray BohlinDr. Ray Bohlin

Probe MinistriesProbe Ministries

www.probe.orgwww.probe.org

[email protected]@probe.org

http://www.probe.org/

Human Social Systems Human Social Systems Have EvolvedHave Evolved

The Reproductive The Reproductive ImperativeImperative(survival and reproduction)(survival and reproduction)

Human Social Systems Human Social Systems Have EvolvedHave Evolved

Why do we love our children?Why do we love our children?

It is an effective means of It is an effective means of producing effective producing effective reproducers.reproducers.

The Individual Is The Individual Is MeaninglessMeaningless

Over evolutionary time, it is Over evolutionary time, it is species survival that matters, species survival that matters, not individual survival.not individual survival.

The organism is just DNA’s The organism is just DNA’s way of making more DNA.way of making more DNA.

All Behavior Is Basically All Behavior Is Basically SelfishSelfish

““No species, ours included, No species, ours included, possesses a purpose beyond the possesses a purpose beyond the imperatives created by its own imperatives created by its own genetic history. . . We have no genetic history. . . We have no particular place to go. The species particular place to go. The species lacks any goal external to its own lacks any goal external to its own biological nature.”biological nature.”

E. O Wilson E. O Wilson (1978)(1978)

Personal Worth and Personal Worth and Dignity?Dignity?

All behavior is ultimately selfishAll behavior is ultimately selfish Personal survival and Personal survival and

reproduction are all that matterreproduction are all that matter The individual is meaninglessThe individual is meaningless Species survival is the ultimate Species survival is the ultimate

goalgoal

The Search for The Search for SignificanceSignificance

hope and meaninghope and meaning

(survival and reproduction)(survival and reproduction)

HOPE AND MEANINGHOPE AND MEANING

(worth and dignity)(worth and dignity)

Total TruthTotal Truth

http://www.gnpcb.org/sites/total.truth/

Cloning DollyCloning Dolly

Mammary gland cell

starved fusewith enucleated

egg

potential embryo

Scientific Issues - SheepScientific Issues - Sheep

Inefficient - 277 fusions, 1 lambInefficient - 277 fusions, 1 lamb How long will Dolly live?How long will Dolly live? Will Dolly be fertile? Yes!Will Dolly be fertile? Yes! Other clones are large and fragile Other clones are large and fragile

with subtle genetic abnormalitieswith subtle genetic abnormalities Some questioned Dolly’s Some questioned Dolly’s

authenticity but this was answered authenticity but this was answered recently.recently.

Why Clone Animals?Why Clone Animals?

Sheep are being cloned to Sheep are being cloned to reproduce genetically reproduce genetically engineered sheep. These engineered sheep. These sheep are engineered to sheep are engineered to mass produce human mass produce human proteins in their milk.proteins in their milk.

Why Clone Humans?Why Clone Humans?Doug Dorner, sterile Doug Dorner, sterile

because of leukemia because of leukemia treatment at age 16: treatment at age 16: “The more he read the “The more he read the more excited he got. more excited he got. ‘Technology saved my ‘Technology saved my life when I was 16,’ he life when I was 16,’ he says, but at the cost of says, but at the cost of his fertility. ‘I think his fertility. ‘I think technology should technology should help me have a kid. help me have a kid. That’s a fair trade.’” That’s a fair trade.’” Time, 2/19/2001, p. 51Time, 2/19/2001, p. 51

Why Clone Humans?Why Clone Humans?

Randolphe Wicker, 63: “’I Randolphe Wicker, 63: “’I can thumb my nose at can thumb my nose at Mr. Death and say, Mr. Death and say, ‘You might get me, but ‘You might get me, but you’re not going to get you’re not going to get all of me,’ he says. all of me,’ he says. ‘The special formula ‘The special formula that is me will live on that is me will live on into another lifetime. into another lifetime. It’s a partial triumph It’s a partial triumph over death. I would over death. I would leave my imprint not in leave my imprint not in sand, but in cement.”sand, but in cement.”


Jack Barker, Minneapolis marketing specialist, Jack Barker, Minneapolis marketing specialist, 36, says, “’I’ve come to the conclusion that I 36, says, “’I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t need a partner but can still have a don’t need a partner but can still have a child,’ he says. ‘A clone would be the perfect child,’ he says. ‘A clone would be the perfect child to have because I know exactly what I’m child to have because I know exactly what I’m getting.”getting.”

““Cloning, he hopes, might even let him improve Cloning, he hopes, might even let him improve

on the original: ‘I have had bad allergies and on the original: ‘I have had bad allergies and asthma. It would be nice to have a kid like asthma. It would be nice to have a kid like you but with those improvements.” p. 55.you but with those improvements.” p. 55.


Why not? Why not? We’re just We’re just another animal another animal species?species?

Children for Children for childless childless couplescouples


Some have Some have suggested suggested that cloning that cloning could could replace a replace a deceased deceased childchild


Cloning could Cloning could create extra create extra copies of copies of desirous desirous individualsindividuals

Biblical PrinciplesBiblical Principles

Genesis 1:26-28Genesis 1:26-28 Created in God’s ImageCreated in God’s Image Therefore we are distinct from the Therefore we are distinct from the

animalsanimals StewardshipStewardship Exhortation to be fruitful and Exhortation to be fruitful and

multiplymultiply

Naturalistic/Evolutionary Naturalistic/Evolutionary PrinciplesPrinciples

An organism’s sole purpose is to An organism’s sole purpose is to survive and reproducesurvive and reproduce

We are just another animal We are just another animal speciesspecies

The species persists through timeThe species persists through time

What is Life?What is Life?

– There is no clear-cut definition for what is life. There is no clear-cut definition for what is life. And this is something, I think, that society is And this is something, I think, that society is going to have to think about, is going to have going to have to think about, is going to have to make some definitions. And those definitions to make some definitions. And those definitions may not be permanent, they may change as may not be permanent, they may change as new technologies are developed. There is a new technologies are developed. There is a fine line, and the line, at the early stages, is fine line, and the line, at the early stages, is really based on your intentions of what they really based on your intentions of what they are to be used for as opposed to necessarily are to be used for as opposed to necessarily what they are. what they are.

What is Life?What is Life?

– So the question of what is life seems So the question of what is life seems to change, I think, in people’s minds to change, I think, in people’s minds based on what their concerns are or based on what their concerns are or their own interests are in how we their own interests are in how we might use whatever it is we are might use whatever it is we are producing.producing.

James Robl, Quoted in The Cloning James Robl, Quoted in The Cloning Revolution, Films for the Humanities and Revolution, Films for the Humanities and Sciences (1998)Sciences (1998)

Violation of Human Violation of Human DignityDignity

Distinctions Distinctions between man between man and animalsand animals

Child becomes Child becomes a thing to be a thing to be designed, sold designed, sold and marketedand marketed

Human ExperimentationHuman Experimentation

No matter how No matter how much animal much animal experimentatiexperimentation is done, on is done, human human embryos will embryos will be sacrificedbe sacrificed

Cloned ExpectationsCloned Expectations

People cloned People cloned for certain traits for certain traits will have high will have high expectationsexpectations

Clones are Clones are identical twins, identical twins, not parent and not parent and childchild

SummarySummary

Tremendous waste of human life at Tremendous waste of human life at embryonic stages.embryonic stages.

Degradation of human dignity - humans Degradation of human dignity - humans designed/created for purposes other than designed/created for purposes other than procreation.procreation.

Dangerous family situationsDangerous family situations Unwise personal expectationsUnwise personal expectations Beneficial research goals achievable by Beneficial research goals achievable by

other means.other means.

The drive toward human cloning is being powered by a selfish mythical right to total reproductive freedom and further fueled by a profound lack of moral courage on the part of science and society. We are unwilling to say that there are some experiments we will not perform.

Questions about CloningQuestions about Cloning

Will Clones be unique individuals?Will Clones be unique individuals? Does a clone have to start as a Does a clone have to start as a

baby?baby? Will cloning affect genetic diversity?Will cloning affect genetic diversity? Can homosexuals use cloning to Can homosexuals use cloning to

have children?have children? Will clones have a soul?Will clones have a soul?

What Are Stem Cells?

• Stem cells are specialized cells that can produce several different kinds of cells

• Just like the stem of a plant will produce branches, leaves, and flowers, so stem cells can usually produce many different kinds of cells.

What Are Adult Stem Cells?

• Over one trillion cells in your body. Most will only divide a few times.

• Specialized stem cells continually produce new cells in certain tissues.

• There are skin, bone marrow, liver, muscle, etc. stem cells.

• These are adult stem cells.• No ethical difficulties

What Are Embryonic Stem Cells?

• Blastocyst – Inner Cell Mass• The Inner Cell Mass eventually forms

all the cells of the body. These are embryonic stem cells (ESC).

• In order to retrieve them, the embryo is destroyed.

• Human ESC have been obtained from leftover embryos from fertility clinics – potential immune rejection

• Many researchers attempt to refer to these as simply “reproductive cells.

What Can Stem Cells Be Used For?

• It is hoped that stem cells can be used to treat and even cure diseases like diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's, and brain and spinal injuries.

• Embryonic stem cells offer the most hope since we know they can become any cell in the body.

The Promise of Adult Stem Cells

• You can harvest adult stem cells from the individual to be treated. Therefore, there are no rejection problems.

• Adult stem cells can switch tissues.• Adult stem cells migrate throughout the body in the

blood.• The discovery of the “ultimate adult stem cell” was

announced 1/23/02

The Promise of Adult Stem Cells

• In 2003 the National Institutes of Health spent $190 million on adult stem cell research and $25 million on embryonic stem cell research

• Clinical trials are already underway using bone marrow (adult) stem cells for treatment of heart attacks, liver disease, diabetes, bone and cartilage disease and brain disorders.

• Adult stem cells can even be injected intravenously in large quantities and they will migrate to where the injury is located.

The Problem with Embryonic Stem Cells

• The embryo must be destroyed.• The proper chemical signals to direct stem cells to turn

into the cells you want are unknown.• Human ESC have been coaxed to differentiate but . . . • Immune rejection• In China a man with Parkinson's was treated with

human ES cells which turned into a tumor (teratoma) in his brain that killed him.

• The power of ESCs is also the source of their peril.

The Ethical Dilemma

• Embryonic Stem Cells (ESC) possess uncertain promise

• The use of ESC requires the death of the embryo.• All therapies with any kind of stem cell are

experimental and may not work.• Too much is being promised.• Coverage in the media has been biased and

inaccurate.• The medical community is largely chaffing against any

limits at all.

The Humanity of the Unborn

• The Argument from Biology• It is a human life at conception• The fertilized egg contains 46 chromosomes in a new

and unique configuration.• Fertilization begins a directional process.• Separate from the mother, genetically distinct

The Humanity of the Unborn

• Argument from Scripture• “Thou shalt not murder.” (Exo. 20:13)• Hebrew and Greek do not distinguish between pre-born

and born children• God’s intimate involvement in the development and life

of the pre-born infant (Ps. 139: 13-16)

Humanity of the Unborn

• Psalm 139:13-16

• Isaiah 49:1

• Psalm 51:5

• Jeremiah 1:5

• Luke 1:39-44

Saving Lives!

• Clinical trials are already testing the treatment of Parkinson’s using gene therapy and adult stem cells.

• Alzheimer’s is likely not treatable by stem cells.• When we think about saving lives we must count the

cost.• Is relieving the symptoms of disease worth the cost of

the lives of the weakest and most defenseless members of society?

• “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'”

The Problem with Therapeutic Cloning

• In order to avoid the immune rejection problem with ESC, many want to clone the affected individual and use the ESC from their clone

• Treats the human embryo as a thing, a clump of cells before 14 days and beyond according to the new law in New Jersey.

• The basis of this ethic is strictly “the end justifies the means.”

• Even the term “therapeutic” is problematic. The subject is destroyed.

• Supposedly more ethical than reproductive cloning, the aim of which is at least to produce life.

The Future?

• If we allow federal funding of ESC research, we have stated that our government supports research at any cost to human life deemed less than worthy as long as we can think of a “good” reason.

• We would therefore endorse the view that “the end justifies the means.”

Cloning and Stem Cell Fraud

• South Korean researcher Woo Suk Hwang and colleagues published two papers in Science (March 12, 2004 and June 17, 2005) claiming to have cloned human embryos and harvested ES cell lines specific to patients with degenerative diseases.

• January 20, 2006 Science retracted both papers citing significant evidence of fabricated evidence.

• No stem cell lines were produced and while cloning was successful, the efficiency was half of what they reported.

• Stem cell research dealt a crippling blow.

Evolution, Human Cloning, and Stem Cells

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