An ethical framework for human embryology with embryo models

A human embryo's legal definition and its entitlement to protection vary greatly worldwide. Recently, human pluripotent stem cells have been used to form in vitro models of early embryos that have challenged legal definitions and raised questions regarding their usage. In this light, we pro...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Rivron, Nicolas C., Martinez Arias, Alfonso, Pera, Martin F., Moris, Naomi, M'hamdi, Hafez Ismaili
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:España
Institución:Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Repositorio:Repositorio Digital de la UPF
OAI Identifier:oai:repositori.upf.edu:10230/58014
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10230/58014
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.028
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Blastoids
Definition
Embryo
Embryo models
Embryology
Ethics
Gastruloids
Human
Legal
Descripción
Sumario:A human embryo's legal definition and its entitlement to protection vary greatly worldwide. Recently, human pluripotent stem cells have been used to form in vitro models of early embryos that have challenged legal definitions and raised questions regarding their usage. In this light, we propose a refined legal definition of an embryo, suggest "tipping points" for when human embryo models could eventually be afforded similar protection to that of embryos, and then revisit basic ethical principles that might help to draft a roadmap for the gradual, justified usage of embryo models in a manner that aims to maximize benefits to society.