Scientists suggest that producing unconscious human bodies in a laboratory setting might be possible with a new technology sparking ethical debates. A groundbreaking technology that could revolutionize organ transplants and medical research, while raising ethical concerns, could potentially lead to the creation of artificial human bodies. As per an article published in MIT Technology Review and proposed by three scientists from Stanford University, it is claimed that ‘bodyoids,’ artificial human bodies without consciousness, could be produced in a laboratory environment. These bodyoids are expected to have similar physiological features to a normal human body but without the ability to feel pain due to the absence of consciousness. Researchers argue that modern medical science is lagging due to a lack of ethically sourced human bodies. They also claim that through this method, an unlimited source of organs, tissues, and cells could be created to meet the increasing demand for organ transplants. Philanthropists raised concerns about the serious ethical implications of this technology but also proposed that it could be implemented without crossing ethical boundaries. They highlighted that the shortage of human biological materials has led to some medical experiments being conducted on animals, which is deemed as a less than ideal approach. At the core of this technology lies the conversion of stem cells into specific types of tissues. Previously, structures mimicking early developmental stages of a human embryo have been created in laboratory settings, while the EctoLife study in Germany showed the feasibility of developing fetuses in artificial wombs. These advancements are making the idea of growing human bodies in a lab more realistic.
In the U.S., over 100,000 patients are waiting for organ transplants, with the number surpassing 8,000 in the UK, leading to hundreds of deaths annually due to the lack of available organs. Scientists suggest that creating bodyoids derived from a patient’s own DNA could ensure perfect compatibility in organ transplants. However, ethical concerns are perceived as a greater obstacle than technological challenges. The production of humanoid entities resembling humans but lacking consciousness could spark debates questioning the value of human life. Researchers emphasized the need for a robust public debate regarding this innovation and used the words, “Caution is advised, but a bold vision is also required; the opportunity is too significant to overlook.”