Introduction: Imagine a future where human bodies are grown in labs—not for life, but as tools for medicine and even "ethical meat." Scientists linked to the World Economic Forum (WEF) are proposing just that with "bodyoids," soulless entities created in artificial wombs. Led by researchers Carsten T. Charlesworth, Henry T. Greely, and Hiromitsu Nakauchi, this chilling vision, detailed in MIT Technology Review, promises to revolutionize medicine while sparking a firestorm of ethical questions. Is this the next frontier of science, or a step too far?
What Are Bodyoids?
Bodyoids are lab-grown human-like forms designed to lack sentience, created using pluripotent stem cells—the building blocks of early human development. Researchers plan to cultivate these entities in artificial uteruses, already under testing, and use genetic techniques to stunt brain development, ensuring they remain mindless. The goal? To produce living testbeds for drug trials, incubators for transplantable organs, and even a source of "ethical meat" free from animal suffering.
The-sun.com reports that this technology builds on recent breakthroughs, including the creation of structures resembling human embryos. Read the full report here. The scientists argue that bodyoids could address longstanding medical and ethical dilemmas, but the idea of harvesting them as "meat" has left many unsettled.
A Solution to Medical Crises?
The proposal tackles pressing challenges. Over 100,000 Americans currently await organ transplants, a crisis unlikely to abate soon. Medical students rely on donated cadavers for training, while drug trials—often tested on animals—yield results that don’t always translate to humans. The researchers note that only 15% of clinical trials succeed, with many taking a decade and risking patient harm. Bodyoids, they claim, could streamline this process by offering a human-like alternative that endures "relentless pain" without ethical backlash.
Ethical Meat and Beyond
Perhaps the most provocative aspect is the suggestion of bodyoids as "ethical meat." The scientists propose that these entities could replace nonhuman animals in research and food production, eliminating suffering and awareness. "They could offer an ethical alternative," they wrote, envisioning a world where meat is sourced without slaughter. Yet, this Frankenstein-like concept—blending bioengineering with sustenance—has ignited fierce debate over where to draw the line.
The Ethical Quandary
While the researchers admit their plan raises "endless ethical questions," they argue it’s a "plausible—possibly revolutionary" step forward. Critics, however, see it as a dystopian overreach. Could creating life solely for exploitation blur the boundaries of humanity? The team urges immediate rodent testing to explore the concept further, but public unease lingers over the morality of playing god in the lab.
What’s Next for Bodyoids?
Once relegated to science fiction, bodyoids are now within reach, thanks to advances in stem cell research and artificial wombs. Whether they become a medical marvel or a bioethical nightmare depends on how society navigates this uncharted territory. For now, the proposal stands as a bold call to rethink life, death, and everything in between.
Author: Planet Today via The-sun.com
По материалам: http://www.planet-today.com/2025/03/bodyoids-lab-grown-human-bodies-for.html