In June 2023 both the public and the broader scientific community were confronted with spectacular and - to some - worrying reports about a major breakthrough in developmental Stem Cell Research: Several laboratories seem to have succeeded in replicating early stages of human embryo growth by creating embryo-like models out of human stem cells. Further study of these ‚synthetic human embryos‘, which are very similar to natural embryos during the first 14 days of their development, may lead to major insights into illnesses, birth defects, and other processes occuring in these early days of ‚human life‘. At the same time, the status before the law of these creatures/creations is unclear as are anthropological, ethical, and moral questions concerning the handling and classification of them.
Panelists:
Prof. Jacob Hanna, PhD, Stem Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Prof. Ben Hurlbut, PhD, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, USA
Moderators:
Prof. Dr. Jochen Wittbrodt, Developmental Biology/Physiology, Heidelberg University
Prof. Dr. Thorsten Moos, Systematic Theology/Ethics, Heidelberg University
Marsilius Academy 2023 "[At the] Limits of Life - Dealing with Biofacts, Embryoids and Hybrids - Perspectives from Sciences and Humanities
Website: www.marsilius-kolleg.uni-heid...