Addressing the ethical issues raised by synthetic human entities with embryo-like features

ELife
John AachGeorge M Church

Abstract

The "14-day rule" for embryo research stipulates that experiments with intact human embryos must not allow them to develop beyond 14 days or the appearance of the primitive streak. However, recent experiments showing that suitably cultured human pluripotent stem cells can self-organize and recapitulate embryonic features have highlighted difficulties with the 14-day rule and led to calls for its reassessment. Here we argue that these and related experiments raise more foundational issues that cannot be fixed by adjusting the 14-day rule, because the framework underlying the rule cannot adequately describe the ways by which synthetic human entities with embryo-like features (SHEEFs) might develop morally concerning features through altered forms of development. We propose that limits on research with SHEEFs be based as directly as possible on the generation of such features, and recommend that the research and bioethics communities lead a wide-ranging inquiry aimed at mapping out solutions to the ethical problems raised by them.

References

Nov 30, 1989·Nature
Nov 6, 1998·Science·J A ThomsonJ M Jones
Jun 1, 1975·Theological Studies·James J Diamond
Jun 13, 2002·Bioethics·C Munthe
Jul 15, 2004·Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal·LeRoy Walters
Dec 15, 2004·BMC Medical Ethics·Shaun D Pattinson, Timothy Caulfield
Aug 25, 2005·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Susan J LeeMark A Rosen
Dec 5, 2006·Stem Cell Reviews·William B Hurlbut
Dec 5, 2006·Stem Cell Reviews·Louis M Guenin
May 15, 2007·The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB·Henry T GreelyDebra M Satz
Oct 2, 2007·Seminars in Perinatology·Curtis L LoweryBarbara Clancy
May 22, 2008·Reproductive Biomedicine Online·Sohyun Lee McElroyRenee A Reijo Pera
Jun 12, 2008·Birth Defects Research. Part C, Embryo Today : Reviews·Scott F Gilbert
Feb 27, 2010·Bioethics·Jussi Niemelä
Nov 6, 2010·Reproductive Biomedicine Online·Karen VersierenPetra De Sutter
May 5, 2012·Lab on a Chip·Dongeun HuhDonald E Ingber
Jan 15, 2013·The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB·Marco Stier, Bettina Schoene-Seifert
Mar 19, 2013·Nature Methods·Prashant MaliGeorge M Church
Sep 3, 2013·Nature·Madeline A LancasterJuergen A Knoblich
Sep 10, 2013·Nature Communications·Hao QiAli Khademhosseini
Sep 24, 2013·Reproductive Biomedicine Online·Charlotte H E WeimarNick S Macklon
Oct 3, 2013·Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine·Thomas BradeKarl-Ludwig Laugwitz
Nov 1, 2013·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Astrid E P CantineauCindy Farquhar
Feb 20, 2014·Advanced Materials·David B KoleskyJennifer A Lewis
Jun 30, 2014·Nature Methods·Aryeh WarmflashAli H Brivanlou
Jul 19, 2014·Science·Kenneth A OyeJames P Collins
Jul 19, 2014·ELife·Kevin M EsveltGeorge M Church
Jul 19, 2014·Science·Madeline A Lancaster, Juergen A Knoblich
Nov 19, 2014·Molecular Systems Biology·Volker BusskampGeorge M Church
Sep 30, 2015·Nature Methods·Martin F PeraPatrick P Tam
May 5, 2016·Nature·Alessia DeglincertiAli H Brivanlou
May 5, 2016·Nature Cell Biology·Marta N ShahbaziMagdalena Zernicka-Goetz
May 14, 2016·Nature·Insoo HyunJosephine Johnston
May 20, 2016·Nature·Jonathan KimmelmanGeorge Q Daley
Jun 29, 2016·Science and Engineering Ethics·Hutan Ashrafian
Oct 12, 2016·Scientific Reports·Kimberly A HomanJennifer A Lewis
Mar 4, 2017·Science·Sarah Ellys HarrisonMagdalena Zernicka-Goetz

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 1, 2017·Development·Martin F Pera
Nov 13, 2017·Science and Engineering Ethics·Pawel Sobkowicz
Jan 25, 2018·Nature·Sergiu P Pașca
May 23, 2018·Nature Cell Biology·Sarah N Boers, Annelien L Bredenoord
Jul 25, 2018·Nature Cell Biology·Marta N Shahbazi, Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
Dec 30, 2018·Monash Bioethics Review·Di Zhang, Reidar K Lie
Jan 21, 2020·The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics : a Journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics·Julian J Koplin, Julian Savulescu
Aug 25, 2019·Molecular Psychiatry·Karl GrenierPhedias Diamandis
Oct 28, 2018·Journal of Medical Ethics·Sarah N BoersAnnelien L Bredenoord
Jul 11, 2020·Current Protocols in Stem Cell Biology·Teresa RiveraJiwu Wang
Aug 18, 2020·Regenerative Medicine·Kirstin Rw Matthews, Daniel Moralí
Oct 31, 2017·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Systems Biology and Medicine·Wei Leong Chew
Apr 27, 2018·British Medical Bulletin·Sandy Starr
Jun 9, 2018·Science·Janet Rossant, Patrick P L Tam
May 6, 2019·Cells·Michael Xavier Doss, Agapios Sachinidis
Aug 2, 2020·Monash Bioethics Review·Grant Castelyn
Jul 28, 2020·Human Reproduction Update·Ana M Pereira DaoudBjörn Heindryckx
May 26, 2017·The Hastings Center Report·Sarah Chan
Jul 5, 2019·Nature Medicine·Amanda MacPherson, Jonathan Kimmelman
Nov 14, 2019·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Chiara ArgentatiSabata Martino
Aug 25, 2018·Nature Materials
Aug 28, 2018·Current Stem Cell Reports·Sarah Chan
Apr 8, 2020·Development·Michael A LensinkAnnelien L Bredenoord
Jan 7, 2021·Journal of Medical Ethics·Monika Piotrowska
Mar 27, 2021·Stem Cell Reports·Kirstin R W MatthewsAryeh Warmflash
Apr 2, 2021·Journal of Molecular Medicine : Official Organ of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Naturforscher Und Ärzte·Paola NicolasAli H Brivanlou

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

ESATE

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Researcher Network:CZI Neurodegeneration Challenge

The Neurodegeneration Challenge Network aims to provide funding for and to bring together researchers studying neurodegenerative diseases. Find the latest research from the NDCN grantees here.