Beyond consciousness: Ethical, legal, and social issues in human brain organoid research and application.
Masanori Kataoka, Takuya Niikawa, Naoya Nagaishi, Tsung-Ling Lee, Alexandre Erler, Julian Savulescu, Tsutomu Sawai
European journal of cell biology March 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2024.151470 via PubMed
Summary
Human brain organoid research raises a range of ethical, legal, and social issues that extend beyond the widely discussed possibility of consciousness. These issues differ depending on whether the organoids are used for in vitro research, transplanted into non-human animals, or applied in biocomputing. Navigating this complex landscape requires a multidisciplinary approach that integrates ethical, legal, and social perspectives.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Biocomputing Brain organoid Chimera Elsi Ethics |
| Citations | 22 |
| Key finding | Human brain organoid research raises diverse ethical, legal, and social issues that vary by application and require a multidisciplinary approach. |
Abstract
This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the ethical, legal and social issues in human brain organoid research, with a view to different types of research and applications: in vitro research, transplantation into non-human animals, and biocomputing. Despite the academic and societal attention on the possibility that human brain organoids may be conscious, we have identified diverse issues in human brain organoid research and applications. To guide the complex terrain of human brain organoid research and applications, a multidisciplinary approach that integrates ethical, legal, and social perspectives is essential.