As research on the transplantation of laboratory-grown ‘mini-brains’ into animals to study neurological diseases continues to expand, experts warn that working with these brain organoids could result in a ‘planet of the apes’ scenario.
The concern is that animals may develop humanized traits and begin to act similarly to the intelligent apes of the popular science fiction story.
The warning comes from a team from the University of Kyoto that has issued a paper highlighting a number of ethical implications that can arise with brain organoid research.
Although many organoids are considered in the brain as a way to quickly treat diseases, others are afraid that because they are designed to mimic the real thing, they can also reach some form of consciousness.
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Experts warn that working with these brain organoids could result in a ‘planet of the apes’ (photo). The concern is that animals may develop humanized traits and begin to act similar to the intelligent apes of the popular science fiction story
Tsutomu Sawai, an assistant professor at Kyoto University, said: ‘It’s still too futuristic, but that does not mean we have to wait to decide on ethical guidelines.
“The concern is not so much a biological humanization of the animal, which can happen to any organoid, but a moral humanization that is exclusive to the brain.”
Brain organoids, first created in 2008, are 3D balls of brain-like tissue that have grown out of stem cells – and usually those of humans.
Other stem cell research uses animal tissue to grow organoids, called ‘xeno-organs’, which are transplanted into other animals.
Brain organoids (pictured), first created in 2008, are 3D spheres of brain-like tissue grown from stem cells – and usually those of humans. Some fear that because they are designed to mimic the right thing, they can also attain a form of consciousness
Scientists, for example, have grown a mouse pancreas into a rat and vice versa.
This pioneering work paves the way for the growth of human pancreas in pigs that can later be harvested for human organ transplants.
However, the paper suggests that these animals would lead their lives as organ farms for the sake of humans.
However, Sawai said there is a more urgent matter.
‘One of the biggest problems is transplants. Should we place brain organs in animals to determine how the brain behaves? ‘
Sawai warns that as a result, it could lead to the improvement of the ability of animals, which may sound like the popular monkey planet.
The story has been a popular story since it was first released in 1968, and then again in 2017 as a remake.
Planet of the Apes takes place on a distant planet somewhere in the future, where three astronauts are trapped and learn that the world is ruled by intelligent monkeys.
Although there is no serious consideration in the growth of brains in humans in animals, transplantation of brain organoids can provide important insight into how diseases such as dementia or schizophrenia form and treatments to cure them.
The brain organoids have given scientists a new way to study the human brain – to better understand how it develops to learn how diseases develop.
Although there is no serious consideration in the growth of brains in humans in animals, transplantation of brain organoids can provide important insight into how diseases such as dementia or schizophrenia form and treatments to cure them. In the photo, the cells in an organoid in the brain appear
However, there are mixed signals in the scientific community on the subject, as some see brain organoids as a way to quickly develop treatments for devastating brain diseases, and others fear that organoids may soon reach some form of consciousness.
The brain is considered the source of human consciousness, so if brain organoids are just a smaller version of the real thing, they need to develop their consciousness as well.
And the Kyoto University article says that it has all sorts of moral implications.
‘Awareness is a very difficult trait to define. “We do not have very good experimental techniques that confirm our consciousness,” Sawai said. He has been writing for years on the ethics of brain organoid research.
“But even if we can’t prove our consciousness, we need to set guidelines because scientific progress requires it.”
Another ethical issue of organ transplantation in the brain deals with humans. If something goes wrong, the mini-brain cannot be removed. Pictured is the growing process of brain organoids starting between three and ten days
Another ethical issue of organ transplantation in the brain deals with humans.
All pathways of brain organoids indicate that they are transplanted in human patients who have suffered some kind of sudden brain injury or trauma.
There are already a number of clinical trials involving the transplantation of brain cells as cell therapy in patients with such injuries or neurodegenerative diseases.
Sawai said the ethics behind these therapies could be a paradigm for brain organs.
Cell transplants change the way brain cells function. “If something goes wrong, we can not just take it out and start over,” Sawai said.
‘But at the moment, cell transplantation is usually just in one place. Brain organoids would be expected to interact more deeply with the brain and venture into more unexpected changes. ‘