Ethical problems surrounding the creation of reproductive cells and embryos from human pluripotent cells:

Referring to discussions in France

Abstract

    At present, research that tries to create reproductive cells from human iPS cells is being carried out. One of its aims is to use reproductive cells created from somatic cells for fertility treatment within the range of reproductive medicine. Unlike when reproductive cells are donated by others, a patient would be able to have his or her own biological child by using reproductive cells created from his or her own somatic cells. It is also possible to create embryos, either by fertilizing two reproductive cells created from somatic cells or by reprogramming somatic cells. In this case, the ethical problems surrounding cloning will be revived. Moreover, it is also possible to treat patients suffering from hereditary diseases by combining reprogramming technology and gene manipulation, in which case the ethical problems surrounding gene therapy will be revived. Since the historical development of somatic cell reprogramming technology, the boundary between somatic and reproductive cells has been increasingly blurred. As such, we will from now on have to treat somatic cells with the respect and care due a potential human being, in much the same way as we currently do with embryos.