Up until March 2019, the growing of animal embryos containing human cells beyond 14 days or transplanting them into a surrogate uterus was illegal in Japan. However, Hiromitsu Nakauchi - A Japanese stem-cell scientist who leads a team at the University of Tokyo and Stanford University in California, was the first to receive government support to grow human cells in mice, rats, and maybe even pigs, then transplanting them into a surrogate and then bring them to full term, with the ultimate goal of producing animals with organs made of human cells for patients who require organ transplants, however Nakauchi has stated that they “don’t expect to create human organs immediately, but this [experiment] allows us to advance our research". Nakauchi, has stated that they will plan to proceed slowly, and will not attempt to bring any hybrid embryos to term for some time.
However these experiments are raising concerns about scientists playing God, due to the possibility that human cells may stray beyond organ development and effectively create a creature that is part animal and part person, as well as human cells may travel to developing animal’s brain and affect cognition. However, Japan is not the first country to have made hybrid embryos, with the US creating hybrid embryos but have never been brought to term. Do the possible benefits outweigh the ethical concerns raised by these experiments? Many have differing opinions, but with so many different views who has the power to decide? Or is it better to leave such matters alone?
Written by Sahar Madina Baraki
Artwork by Delicia P
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