Note: Stem cells are among the technologies that, in addition to complexity, have also brought about fantasies for humanity. When a tissue in the body is repaired, why cannot one speak of rejuvenating the entire body? When a new cell can be created, why should the human desire for immortality be an unattainable matter? Dr. Sadeq Qadimi, who has obtained a doctorate in jurisprudence and law and has been researching in the field of medical jurisprudence for years, believes that despite the rapid and astonishing advancements in stem cells, speaking of immortality and permanent youth for humanity is currently in the realm of imagination. This professor of the sisters’ seminary, of course, reminds that knowledge of this kind is usually developed secretly, and their advancements are not made public. We spoke with him about the applications of stem cells in human life today, the details of which are presented below:

Contemporary Jurisprudence: What are stem cells and which cells do they include?

Qadimi: Stem cells, known as stem cells, are a type of cell that have the ability to divide and differentiate into various types of cells and, due to their special capabilities, have many applications in medical and therapeutic research. These cells have two characteristics: one is the ability to divide, meaning they can divide indefinitely; and the second is differentiation, meaning they can turn into other specialized cells, such as nerve, muscle, blood, and skin cells; for this reason, they are called stem cells. Stem cells are divided into embryonic stem cells, adult, mesenchymal, pluripotential, and induced pluripotent or iPS, each of which has its own specific function and is obtained from a specific source. These cells, some more intensely and some less, have the ability to turn into specific cells; meaning some of them have greater capability and can differentiate into more cells, and some less.

The applications of these cells are also in treating diseases and scientific research.

Contemporary Jurisprudence: Are stem cells limited only to umbilical cord and embryonic cells, or do they also include bone marrow cells?

Qadimi: Stem cells are not limited to umbilical cord embryonic cells and have various types, as we mentioned in the previous discussion; such as embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, umbilical cord stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, pluripotential stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells are taken from embryos in the early stages of formation. In specialized medical terminology, they are called blastocysts from which they are extracted and have the ability to multiply and differentiate.

Adult stem cells are the same ones you mentioned that are found in bone marrow, skin, and adipose tissue and have the ability to differentiate and specialize; however, they are more limited than embryonic stem cells, meaning their differentiation ability is less than these.

Umbilical cord stem cells are extracted from umbilical cord blood after childbirth.

Mesenchymal stem cells are cells that can turn into various cells and have abundant applications in treatment and research. These cells in our country are particularly and specially attended to, and numerous centers work on them. These cells are extracted from tissues like bone marrow, fat, and even baby teeth, and their characteristic is that they can turn into various types of cells such as fat, cartilage, and bone.

Pluripotential stem cells are also among those that have no limitation in differentiation and can turn into any type of cell in the body.

Contemporary Jurisprudence: Do you confirm the report that so far in Iran, no medical use has been made of umbilical cord blood bank stem cells, and whether the level of use of stem cells in Iran differs from other countries or not?

Qadimi: This report is not accurate; because both stem cells are used and umbilical cord blood banks are widely used. In Iran, recently, development and research in the field of stem cells have had significant progress to the extent that Iran is among the leaders in this field in West Asian countries and can be said to be among the pioneering countries in this region. Regarding the level of medical use of stem cells, I can point to the following cases:

One, stem cell transplantation; second, the development of umbilical cord blood banks. Third, scientific and therapeutic research; fourth, institutionalizing the culture of storing umbilical cord blood and donating it. Perhaps the most important part of it, which is also very prevalent in our society, is the use of stem cells in treating infertility, which is done extensively and, given the necessity of the jihad of childbearing, is a very valuable work. Our country is among the countries that can boldly be said to be moving on the frontier of science and is considered among the innovative and pioneering countries in this field.

Contemporary Jurisprudence: Is it possible to clone humans or rejuvenate and immortalize them through advancements in stem cells or not?

Qadimi: This question has three parts: cloning, rejuvenation, and immortality, which I will briefly address all three.

Cloning means wanting to prepare another genetic version of a human and is divided into two types: therapeutic cloning, which is about tissue or organ, meaning we prepare an organ almost similar to the tissue or organ existing in the human body and transplant it to it, which is called therapeutic cloning. The other is full cloning; meaning we clone an entire human, which of course these are currently in the research stage, and it is unknown whether stem cell science can reach this stage.

But rejuvenation means returning the characteristics of youth to cells and tissues. Stem cells have capabilities that can help repair and regenerate tissues, which is a prelude to rejuvenation, and in a way that stem cells can help produce new cells and repair damaged tissues. This work is currently being done extensively in the clinical stage in our country.

But immortality means a person reaches a stage where they have endless life or the aging process stops in them. Of course, no one claims that technology or industry or technology is reaching a place that makes humans immortal; but research and works are being done that are in the direction of increasing lifespan and improving the quality of human life.

The summary of my points in these three cases is that: the progress of stem cell technology can help rejuvenate tissues and treat diseases; but full human cloning and reaching the stage of immortality are currently in the realm of imagination; meaning far from the reach of existing research, and of course it has its own ethical and scientific challenges. It also has very extensive jurisprudential discussions, even in countries where jurisprudential discussions are not raised, ethical discussions, permissible and impermissible, and the ethical and unethical permissibility of these are discussed.

Regarding the scientific and technical discussions of this issue, one cannot speak definitively; because the announced technology differs from the real technology, meaning many advancements are not announced and are kept secret for certain interests.