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The Guardian is reporting that the first (almost) fully formed human brain has been grown in a lab. Note, no paper or data has yet been published, but...
An almost fully-formed human brain has been grown in a lab for the first time, claim scientists from Ohio State University. The team behind the feat hope the brain could transform our understanding of neurological disease.
Though not conscious the miniature brain, which resembles that of a five-week-old foetus, could potentially be useful for scientists who want to study the progression of developmental diseases. It could also be used to test drugs for conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, since the regions they affect are in place during an early stage of brain development.
Is it thinking?
The ethical concerns were non-existent, said Rene Anand of Ohio State University. "We don't have any sensory stimuli entering the brain. This brain is not thinking in any way."
Personally I'd like to see it hooked up to an fMRI just to check.
(Score: 1) by The Shire on Thursday August 20 2015, @01:54PM
Even a mature brain might be ethically "ok" to create. Current studies (and everyone's own personal experience) show that "self awareness" does not emerge until 15-24 months after birth, and that's with normal stimulation. However, what you do with your maturing brain specimen when it does start exhibiting self awareness, now that's the ethical nightmare.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 20 2015, @02:52PM
Yet, many animals respond negatively to being poked, prodded, or eaten by a larger animal.
Many insects and such would likely not respond to your self-aware test, but would try to bite you anyway if you were mean to it.
The brain in a jar is more defenseless than anything else out there, as it can't bite the mean scientists.
A simple brain does not need a concept of ethics in order to gain an understanding that something is negatively impacting it, although it may experience frustration due to being unable to articulate such things.
many profoundly retarded/mentally disabled people are quite capable of being upset and being unable to properly explain why. babies cry, too, for much the same reasons. I imagine the brain would cry if it could, even before it was 9 months plus another 15...
One doesn't have to be a human to experience fear or anger or aggression or frustration or... any of that. Even fruit flies seem to display fear, and we know mice do.
I am sure that given some time, the brains will start thinking something. Considering that many humans disbelieve animals are capable of similar cognitive powers as humans, I am guessing the scientific process will rationalize such concerns away due to the brains not being "real" brains... they're "almost" real! (That is, until they make a matrix for the brains and the brains take over after learning how to control the internet of things a la lawnmower brain man.).
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 21 2015, @12:31AM
"I suppose Epsilons don't really mind being Epsilons," she said aloud.
"Of course they don't. How can they? They don't know what it's like being anything else. We'd mind, of course. But then we've been differently conditioned. Besides, we start with a different heredity."
"I'm glad I'm not an Epsilon," said Lenina, with conviction.
"And if you were an Epsilon," said Henry, "your conditioning would have made you no less thankful that you weren't a Beta or an Alpha."