The Potentiality of the Embryo and the Somatic Cell

Recent arguments on the ethics of stem cell research have taken a novel approach to the question of the moral status of the embryo. One influential argument focuses on a property that the embryo is said to possess—namely, the property of being an entity with a rational nature or, less controversially, an entity that has the potential to acquire a rational nature—and claims that this property is also possessed by a somatic cell. Since nobody seriously thinks that we have a duty to preserve the countless such cells we wash off our body every day in the shower, the argument is intended as a reductio ad absurdum of the claim that the embryo should be afforded the same moral status as a fully developed human being. This article argues that this argument is not successful and that it consequently plays into the hands of those who oppose embryonic stem cell research. It is therefore better to abandon this argument and focus instead on the different argument that potentiality, as such, is not a sufficient ground for the creation of moral obligations towards the embryo.     

The Embryo Rescue Case

In the debate regarding the moral status of human embryos, the Embryo Rescue Case has been used to suggest that embryos are not rightholders. This case is premised on the idea that in a situation where one has a choice between saving some number of embryos or a child, it seems wrong to save the embryos and not the child. If so, it seems that embryos cannot be rightholders. In this paper, I argue that the Embryo Rescue Case does not independently show that embryos are not rightholders.     

人类胚胎的道德地位

胚胎干细胞技术的发展带来了干细胞来源的伦理争论,提出了如何看待"胚胎道德地位"的问题。围绕这一问题,有三种观点,它们分别从生物性、理性功能以及人的潜能性来界定胚胎的道德地位。通过对三种观点的分析,本文强调坚持人的尊严原则,是推动新兴生物技术发展的核心和归宿。     

The Metaphysical Status of the Embryo: Some Arguments Revisited

abstract This paper re‐examines some well‐known and commonly accepted arguments for the non‐individuality of the embryo, due mainly to the work of John Harris. The first concerns the alleged non‐differentiation of the embryoblast from the trophoblast. The second concerns monozygotic twinning and the relevance of the primitive streak. The third concerns the totipotency of the cells of the early embryo. I argue that on a proper analysis of both the empirical facts of embryological development, and the metaphysical importance or otherwise of those facts, all three arguments are found wanting. None of them establishes that the embryo is not an individual human being from the moment of conception.     

评《人胚胎干细胞研究伦理指导原则》

据2004年1月14日<健康报>报道,科技部和卫生部联合发布了十二条<人胚胎干细胞研究伦理指导原则>,这是继1998年卫生部颁布<涉及人体的生物医学研究伦理审查办法(试行)>,1999年国家药品监督管理局颁布<药品临床试验管理规范>后,国家有关主管科研部门颁布的一个专项伦理指导原则.该文件首先指出了遵守国际国内的伦理准则与科学研究的顺利发展的一致性,明确禁止人的生殖性克隆,禁止人胚胎的研究超过14天,禁止将研究用胚胎植入人和其他动物生殖系统,禁止人的生殖细胞与其他物种生殖细胞的结合,禁止买卖人类配子、受精卵、胚胎和胎儿组织,强调贯彻知情同意和知情选择原则,保护隐私以及要求成立伦理委员会,这些都是非常重要的,应该加以肯定.     

浅析肿瘤胚胎性起源假说

假说的检验是一个历史的辩证的发展过程.1829年,Lobstein和Recamier提出了肿瘤的胚胎性起源的概念.经过了近2个世纪,应该重新认识和评价该假说.论述了现有肿瘤起源假说,肿瘤胚胎性起源假说的提出、发展、证据和意义,以及给予我们的启示.     

The UK Hybrid Embryo Controversy: Delegitimising Counterpublics

The UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act of 1990 was revised in 2008 in response to legal challenges, societal changes and clinical advances since 1990. A provision permitting the creation of animal–human hybrid embryos was the subject of an extremely effective public relations (PR) campaign by embryo scientists and other supporters of such experimentation. In response, science correspondents of the ‘serious’ or ‘quality’ press commented favourably on these PR activities; this validation supplemented key messages in their press releases. The approval conferred on attempts to shape public opinion was explicitly contrasted with the public consultation exercise conducted by the UK Department of Health in 2005. Press coverage of the campaign demonstrated asymmetrical framings of the representativeness of public opinion and scientists' accounts of their proposed research. Scientists' views were represented as objective and therefore a legitimate basis for policymaking, in contrast with subjective views of putatively uninformed or opposed publics. Such opponents were cast as a counterpublic. The public interest was limited to evaluating the science on its own terms, thus pre-empting consideration of the possibility that public interests and scientists' interests may not coincide.     

Shiite Perspective on the Moral Status of the Early Human Embryo: A Critical Review

According to Shiite perspective, the relative inviolability of the human embryo starts at the time of implantation and attains complete ethical status at ensoulment. Different paradigms of embryology have been influential on the understanding of Shiite jurists of the relevant Qur’anic verses. This paper provides a critical review of the process of issuing religious decrees on issues related to the early human life and concludes that Shiite jurisprudence needs to obtain consistency in its adopted account of embryology and adopt a proactive approach toward the bioethical new-emerging issues.     

天主教视野中的胚胎生命浅析

圣经和教会官方都没有断定胚胎是人,但都要求将胚胎象人一样对待;天主教内学者们在胚胎何时是人这个问题上观点并不一致,理由各异。天主教视阈中要求尊重胚胎的理由也许不能为世俗学者所接受,因为其话语体系、理论基础和问题视角等方面存在很大不同,但是二者的对话是必要而且可能的。     

Embryo genetic disorder analysis demonstration project: A model protocol

A demonstration project designed for couples at a minimum 25% risk for having a child with cystic fibrosis is being undertaken using embryo genetic disorder analysis within an organization proficient inin vitro fertilization techniques. Prior to offering the project to patients, issues were identified that needed to be addressed in order to improve the likelihood of success. We then developed a set of protocols that would enable us to introduce this new technology to our staff and to prospective patients in a consistent manner.     

体外授精—胚胎移植后异位妊娠相关因素研究进展

近年来,随着体外授精一胚胎移植(IVF-ET)技术的蓬勃开展,IVF-ET后异位妊娠(EP)的发病率也随之升高.IVF-ET后EP发生的相关危险因素包括输卵管因素、子宫内膜异位症、授精方式、胚胎移植技术及控制性超排卵等,其中最主要的危险因素是由输卵管因素引起的输卵管功能紊乱.对具有以上危险因素的患者,在行IVF-ET治疗前,应尽量减少危险因素的影响,以提高临床妊娠率,并减少异位妊娠的发生率.本文就近年来对IVF-ET后EP发生的相关危险因素的研究作一综述.     

胚胎干细胞技术对人类社会利弊辩

正方辩题 :胚胎干细胞技术对人类社会利大于弊反方辩题 :胚胎干细胞技术对人类社会弊大于利正方一辩 :主席、评委、各位辩友 ,大家好 :有位学者曾经说过 :“2 0世纪是药物时代 ,2 1世纪是细胞时代。”1998年 ,美国科学家用人类胚胎干细胞在体外培养和分化的成功 ,引发了全球干细胞研究的热潮 ,同时也激起人们对这一新兴技术发展的争议。经过对这项技术中所蕴涵的科学价值的判断和应用前景的展望 ,以及所带来的生命学、伦理学等诸多问题的理性反思 ,我方一致认为 :胚胎干细胞技术对人类社会利大于弊。所谓胚胎干细胞 ,其实是人胚胎发育早期—…