Adapting the 14-day rule for embryo research to encompass evolving technologies

Reproductive Biomedicine & Society Online
Kate Williams, Martin H Johnson

Abstract

We consider the scientific evidence that research on in-vitro development of embryos beyond 14 days is necessary. We then examine potential new developments in the use of stem cells to make embryoids or synthetic human entities with embryo-like features, and consider whether they also require legal control. Next, we consider the arguments advanced against extending the 14-day period during which research on human embryos is currently permitted, and find none of them to be convincing. We end by proposing a new objective limit that could serve as a mechanism for regulating the use of embryos for research in vitro.

Citations

Aug 18, 2020·Regenerative Medicine·Kirstin Rw Matthews, Daniel Moralí
Aug 2, 2020·Monash Bioethics Review·Grant Castelyn
Apr 2, 2021·Journal of Molecular Medicine : Official Organ of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Naturforscher Und Ärzte·Paola NicolasAli H Brivanlou
May 29, 2021·Stem Cell Reports·Robin Lovell-BadgeXiaomei Zhai
Jun 12, 2021·Journal of Medical Ethics·Bruce Philip Blackshaw, Daniel Rodger

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
RNA-seq
confocal microscopy
biopsies
biopsy
bioprinting
now

Software Mentioned

YouGov

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