Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Chen, H. Isaac
• Wolf, John A.
• Blue, Rachel
• Song, Mingyan Maggie
• Moreno, Jonathan D.
• Ming, Guo-li
• Song, Hongjun

Titel

Transplantation of Human Brain Organoids: Revisiting the Science and Ethics of Brain Chimeras

Ist Teil von

• Cell stem cell, 2019-10, Vol.25 (4), p.462-472

Ort / Verlag

United States: Elsevier Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2019

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Recent demonstrations of human brain organoid transplantation in rodents have accentuated ethical concerns associated with these entities, especially as they relate to potential “humanization” of host animals. Consideration of established scientific principles can help define the realistic range of expected outcomes in such transplantation studies. This practical approach suggests that augmentation of discrete brain functions in transplant hosts is a more relevant ethical question in the near term than the possibility of “conscious” chimeric animals. We hope that this framework contributes to a balanced approach for proceeding with studies involving brain organoid transplantation and other forms of human-animal brain chimeras. Recent demonstrations of human brain organoid transplantation in rodents have accentuated ethical concerns associated with these entities, especially as they relate to potential “humanization” of host animals. Consideration of established scientific principles can help define the realistic range of expected outcomes in such transplantation studies. This practical approach suggests that augmentation of discrete brain functions in transplant hosts is a more relevant ethical question in the near term than the possibility of “conscious” chimeric animals. We hope that this framework contributes to a balanced approach for proceeding with studies involving brain organoid transplantation and other forms of human-animal brain chimeras.