Scientists Want to Grow Unconscious Human Bodies for Organ Harvesting
The idea of growing artificial body parts and organs is not new and is used in many areas of medicine. However, scientists have recently announced their desire to advance this field by growing entire human-like bodies without a brain.
In search of a solution to the acute shortage of human organs for transplantation and research, scientists are looking for unusual solutions that could challenge conventional wisdom and moral norms.
In a recent scientific paper, they discussed the concept of creating “bodyoids” — lab-grown human bodies created from pluripotent stem cells. These creatures would be designed in such a way that they would not have consciousness or the ability to feel pain, the study promises, writes Popular Mechanics.
Pluripotent stem cells have the remarkable ability to differentiate into any cell type in the human body. Advances in stem cell research have allowed scientists to mimic the early stages of human embryonic development, and advances in artificial womb technology have expanded the possibilities for developing human tissue outside the body, according to their discussion in MIT Technology Review.
By using genetic techniques to suppress brain development, the researchers suggest that these “bodyoids” could serve as a renewable source of organs and tissue without the ethical concerns associated with conscious living beings.
The ethical issues surrounding the creation of such creatures are complex. While the prospect of creating human bodies without consciousness may seem terrifying to many, proponents argue that the potential medical benefits merit serious consideration.
The authors acknowledge that the concept may cause discomfort for a large proportion of people, but stress the importance of finding innovative solutions to alleviate the human suffering that those in need of donor organs endure.
This approach is consistent with ongoing research into organoids – miniature, simplified versions of artificially created organs that mimic key functional and structural aspects of real organs.
Organoids play an important role in studying development, disease progression, and drug response, offering previously unattainable insights. The creation of “bodyoids” could be a significant leap forward, providing more complete models for medical research and potential therapeutic applications.
As the science advances, the dialogue around the creation and use of such donor bodies must evolve in parallel, the scientists say. A thoughtful discussion of the ethical, social, and scientific aspects of this technology is necessary to navigate the challenges and opportunities it presents.
“As we proceed, the ethical and social issues are at least as important as the scientific ones,” the authors wrote. “Even if it looks possible, determining whether we should make bodyoids, nonhuman or human, will require considerable thought, discussion, and debate.”
