Scientists grow human brain tissue from stem cells

he said the scientific dream of creating a “brain in a dish” remained out of reach.

... line officially crossed. No! Bad scientist!! No cookie for you!

This was exactly the line that everyone agreed shouldn't be crossed with cloning, creating organs capable of thought for the express purpose of experimentation.

I don't know how this ever got past any ethics committee anywhere, but it should be stopped right now. Brain tissue is off limits.

well, dear sir we will have to agree to disagree. Less animal testing AND more relevant results is a win-win. Id rather have experiments done one an artificially engineered 'organ' as you say than use live creatures who were just born to live with the exception of humans who would for any reason volunteer, animals can never really agree to it. I undestand the necessity of it at times and i recognize it has brought many advances to science but if there is an option to quit then the practice becomes barbaric. I say all hail the petri-dish brain and i think many rats and cats, dogs and monkeys with me

mrmaliceAug. 30, 2013 - 09:18PM JST well, dear sir we will have to agree to disagree. Less animal testing AND more relevant results is a win-win.

Where do draw the line between "organs" and a sentient brain that can think and experience pain and suffering? This is the ethical dilemma with the "petri-dish brain".

Id rather have experiments done one an artificially engineered 'organ' as you say than use live creatures who were just born to live with the exception of humans who would for any reason volunteer, animals can never really agree to it.

... the brain in a dish can't consent either... it can't dissent... it can't even cry out in pain. It is alive (it meets all the criteria).

I see your point, and have never been in favor of animal experimentation, but to clone a human being (or more specifically the part of the human being that makes us human) simply to be experimented on and then disposed of is monstrous.