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Tiny human brain organoids implanted into rodents, triggering ethical concerns
Minuscule blobs of human brain tissue have come a long way in the four years since scientists in Vienna discovered [DOI: 10.1038/nature12517] [DX] how to create them from stem cells.
The most advanced of these human brain organoids — no bigger than a lentil and, until now, existing only in test tubes — pulse with the kind of electrical activity that animates actual brains. They give birth to new neurons [open, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.04.032] [DX], much like full-blown brains. And they develop the six layers [open, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.09.047] [DX] of the human cortex, the region responsible for thought, speech, judgment, and other advanced cognitive functions.
These micro quasi-brains are revolutionizing research on human brain development and diseases from Alzheimer's to Zika [open, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.04.032] [DX], but the headlong rush to grow the most realistic, most highly developed brain organoids has thrown researchers into uncharted ethical waters. Like virtually all experts in the field, neuroscientist Hongjun Song of the University of Pennsylvania doesn't "believe an organoid in a dish can think," he said, "but it's an issue we need to discuss."
Those discussions will become more urgent after this weekend. At a neuroscience meeting, two teams of researchers will report implanting human brain organoids into the brains of lab rats and mice, raising the prospect that the organized, functional human tissue could develop further within a rodent. Separately, another lab has confirmed to STAT that it has connected human brain organoids to blood vessels, the first step toward giving them a blood supply.
Ethicists triggered once again.
Also at Inverse, Express, and Daily Mail (included for contrast).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 10 2017, @12:44AM (4 children)
Which is, of course, why you bothered to take the time to reply?
Is it ethical to throw out taunting ramblings, especially when the comment was addressed to concerns about ethicists? Are you unwilling to accept criticism about your profession, assuming it is in fact what you do (and it probably isn't)? Do you fear people finding out about your redundancy, invasiveness and ineffectiveness when you are making their decisions for them, resulting in their death and you patting yourself on the back? Was the mouse even mentioned in the post you "replied" to?
If you are "contributing" to society with this response, then I (and most people reading this) individually contribute more to society with bowel movements and the subsequent production of fertilizer than you have in your entire career, even accounting for the fact that human waste is not frequently actually used as fertilizer. Unless, of course, you count your contributions to society with a body count. Again, assuming it's your actual career, which it almost certainly isn't. And if it is, well, congratulations, you're exhibit #1 in how easy it is to trigger one into enraged, irrational rambling, or at least lackluster trolling.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 10 2017, @01:48AM (1 child)
Same ethicist responding:
Yes.
Even moreso.
Not really necessary. We are professionals, after all.
No.
Confero, si tu gratia: "non-functioning".
Nurse! More Thorazine for this one. Thank you.
Now this cuts to the quick. Fortunately, I am a highly trained ethicist, and I have learned to treat comments like yours as a symptom of the disease, and not take them personally. Have a nice life, unethical AC!
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 10 2017, @02:50AM
+Informative.
An excellent lesson in the dissection of a (brain) dead comment.
(Score: 3, Informative) by c0lo on Friday November 10 2017, @01:48AM (1 child)
Whoosh. Give the world peas and you'll be spared.
Until then, your impaired sense of humour is more of a tax on this world than a benefit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 10 2017, @02:06PM
how about giving the man a brain organoid? we can wire it in like a co-processor. if we get a good reply then we'll know the ethicists were right